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Finkina EI, Shevchenko OV, Fateeva SI, Tagaev AA, Ovchinnikova TV. Antifungal Plant Defensins as an Alternative Tool to Combat Candidiasis. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1499. [PMID: 38891308 PMCID: PMC11174490 DOI: 10.3390/plants13111499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Currently, the spread of fungal infections is becoming an urgent problem. Fungi of the Candida genus are opportunistic microorganisms that cause superficial and life-threatening systemic candidiasis in immunocompromised patients. The list of antifungal drugs for the treatment of candidiasis is very limited, while the prevalence of resistant strains is growing rapidly. Therefore, the search for new antimycotics, including those exhibiting immunomodulatory properties, is of great importance. Plenty of natural compounds with antifungal activities may be extremely useful in solving this problem. This review evaluates the features of natural antimicrobial peptides, namely plant defensins as possible prototypes of new anticandidal agents. Plant defensins are important components of the innate immune system, which provides the first line of defense against pathogens. The introduction presents a brief summary regarding pathogenic Candida species, the pathogenesis of candidiasis, and the mechanisms of antimycotic resistance. Then, the structural features of plant defensins, their anticandidal activities, their mechanisms of action on yeast-like fungi, their ability to prevent adhesion and biofilm formation, and their combined action with conventional antimycotics are described. The possible mechanisms of fungal resistance to plant defensins, their cytotoxic activity, and their effectiveness in in vivo experiments are also discussed. In addition, for the first time for plant defensins, knowledge about their immunomodulatory effects is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina I. Finkina
- M. M. Shemyakin & Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, The Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia (T.V.O.)
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Gu T, Qi Z, Wang Y, Chen S, Yan J, Qiu H, Yu Y, Fang Z, Wang J, Gong J. An endophytic fungus interacts with the defensin-like protein OsCAL1 to regulate cadmium allocation in rice. MOLECULAR PLANT 2024; 17:312-324. [PMID: 38160253 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Defensin-like proteins are conserved in multicellular organisms and contribute to innate immune responses against fungal pathogens. In rice, defensins play a novel role in regulating cadmium (Cd) efflux from the cytosol. However, whether the antifungal activity of defensins correlates with Cd-efflux function remains unknown. In this study, we isolated an endophytic Fusarium, designed Fo10, by a comparative microbiome analysis of rice plants grown in a paddy contaminated with Cd. Fo10 is tolerant to high levels of Cd, but is sensitive to the defensin-like protein OsCAL1, which mediates Cd efflux to the apoplast. We found that Fo10 symbiosis in rice is regulated by OsCAL1 dynamics, and Fo10 coordinates multiple plant processes, including Cd uptake, vacuolar sequestration, efflux to the environment, and formation of Fe plaques in the rhizosphere. These processes are dependent on the salicylic acid signaling pathway to keep Cd levels low in the cytosol of rice cells and to decrease Cd levels in rice grains without any yield penalty. Fo10 also plays a role in Cd tolerance in the poaceous crop maize and wheat, but has no observed effects in the eudicot plants Arabidopsis and tomato. Taken together, these findings provide insights into the mechanistic basis underlying how a fungal endophyte and host plant interact to control Cd accumulation in host plants by adapting defense responses to promote the establishment of a symbiosis that permits adaptation to high-Cd environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Gu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Economic Crops Genetic Improvement and Integrated Utilization, College of Life Science, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
| | - Ziai Qi
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yating Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Siying Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Economic Crops Genetic Improvement and Integrated Utilization, College of Life Science, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
| | - Jing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Huapeng Qiu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanxuan Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zijun Fang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Junmin Wang
- Institute of Crops and Nuclear Technology Utilization, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Jiming Gong
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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3
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Munzen ME, Goncalves Garcia AD, Martinez LR. An update on the global treatment of invasive fungal infections. Future Microbiol 2023; 18:1095-1117. [PMID: 37750748 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are a serious problem affecting many people worldwide, creating critical economic and medical consequences. Fungi are ubiquitous and can cause invasive diseases in individuals mostly living in developing countries or with weakened immune systems, and antifungal drugs currently available have important limitations in tolerability and efficacy. In an effort to counteract the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with invasive fungal infections, various approaches are being utilized to discover and develop new antifungal agents. This review discusses the challenges posed by fungal infections, outlines different methods for developing antifungal drugs and reports on the status of drugs currently in clinical trials, which offer hope for combating this serious global problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa E Munzen
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Luis R Martinez
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center for Immunology and Transplantation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Ochiai A. Discovery of new functions of food proteins and their structural development for multifunctional applications. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2023; 87:1102-1110. [PMID: 37480241 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbad098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Proteins and peptides derived from various food sources are used in a variety of applications, including functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The three-dimensional structure of proteins provides useful insights into their functions and essential information for the creation of proteins with new functions. In this review, a series of functional conversion technologies based on protein structural information derived from foods traditionally consumed in Japan, such as natto (fermented soybeans) and rice, are introduced. For natto, we first identified 2 types of Bacillus subtilis-derived endolytic and exolytic enzymes with different modes of action on soybean cell wall polysaccharides and then focused on the technology used to create an endolytic enzyme from an exolytic enzyme. By applying this technology, a method for creating novel bioactive peptides from rice seed proteins was established. The modified peptides created could provide diverse options for the production of substances such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihito Ochiai
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
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Andreo-Jimenez B, Te Beest DE, Kruijer W, Vannier N, Kadam NN, Melandri G, Jagadish SVK, van der Linden G, Ruyter-Spira C, Vandenkoornhuyse P, Bouwmeester HJ. Genetic Mapping of the Root Mycobiota in Rice and its Role in Drought Tolerance. RICE (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 16:26. [PMID: 37212977 DOI: 10.1186/s12284-023-00641-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rice is the second most produced crop worldwide, but is highly susceptible to drought. Micro-organisms can potentially alleviate the effects of drought. The aim of the present study was to unravel the genetic factors involved in the rice-microbe interaction, and whether genetics play a role in rice drought tolerance. For this purpose, the composition of the root mycobiota was characterized in 296 rice accessions (Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica) under control and drought conditions. Genome wide association mapping (GWAS) resulted in the identification of ten significant (LOD > 4) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with six root-associated fungi: Ceratosphaeria spp., Cladosporium spp., Boudiera spp., Chaetomium spp., and with a few fungi from the Rhizophydiales order. Four SNPs associated with fungi-mediated drought tolerance were also found. Genes located around those SNPs, such as a DEFENSIN-LIKE (DEFL) protein, EXOCYST TETHERING COMPLEX (EXO70), RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR-LIKE (RALFL) protein, peroxidase and xylosyltransferase, have been shown to be involved in pathogen defense, abiotic stress responses and cell wall remodeling processes. Our study shows that rice genetics affects the recruitment of fungi, and that some fungi affect yield under drought. We identified candidate target genes for breeding to improve rice-fungal interactions and hence drought tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Andreo-Jimenez
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Biointeractions and Plant Health, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Dennis E Te Beest
- Biometris, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Kruijer
- Biometris, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Niteen N Kadam
- International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
- Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Giovanni Melandri
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - S V Krishna Jagadish
- International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
- Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | | | - Carolien Ruyter-Spira
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Harro J Bouwmeester
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Gu TY, Qi ZA, Chen SY, Yan J, Fang ZJ, Wang JM, Gong JM. Dual-function DEFENSIN 8 mediates phloem cadmium unloading and accumulation in rice grains. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 191:515-527. [PMID: 36087013 PMCID: PMC9806624 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Grain cadmium (Cd) is translocated from source to sink tissues exclusively via phloem, though the phloem Cd unloading transporter has not been identified yet. Here, we isolated and functionally characterized a defensin-like gene DEFENSIN 8 (DEF8) highly expressed in rice (Oryza sativa) grains and induced by Cd exposure in seedling roots. Histochemical analysis and subcellular localization detected DEF8 expression preferentially in pericycle cells and phloem of seedling roots, as well as in phloem of grain vasculatures. Further analysis demonstrated that DEF8 is secreted into extracellular spaces possibly by vesicle trafficking. DEF8 bound to Cd in vitro, and Cd efflux from protoplasts as well as loading into xylem vessels decreased in the def8 mutant seedlings compared with the wild type. At maturity, significantly less Cd accumulation was observed in the mutant grains. These results suggest that DEF8 is a dual function protein that facilitates Cd loading into xylem and unloading from phloem, thus mediating Cd translocation from roots to shoots and further allocation to grains, representing a phloem Cd unloading regulator. Moreover, essential mineral nutrient accumulation as well as important agronomic traits were not affected in the def8 mutants, suggesting DEF8 is an ideal target for breeding low grain Cd rice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Si-Ying Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Zi-Jun Fang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jun-Min Wang
- Institute of Crops and Nuclear Technology Utilization, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
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Slezina MP, Istomina EA, Korostyleva TV, Odintsova TI. The γ-Core Motif Peptides of Plant AMPs as Novel Antimicrobials for Medicine and Agriculture. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010483. [PMID: 36613926 PMCID: PMC9820530 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The γ-core motif is a structural element shared by most host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which is supposed to contribute to their antimicrobial properties. In this review, we summarized the available data on the γ-core peptides of plant AMPs. We describe γ-core peptides that have been shown to exhibit inhibitory activity against plant and human bacterial and fungal pathogens that make them attractive scaffolds for the development of novel anti-infective agents. Their advantages include origin from natural AMP sequences, broad-spectrum and potent inhibitory activity, and cost-effective production. In addition, some γ-core peptides combine antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions, thus broadening the spectrum of practical applications. Some act synergistically with antimycotics and fungicides, so combinations of peptides with conventionally used antifungal agents can be suggested as an effective strategy to reduce the doses of potentially harmful chemicals. The presented information will pave the way for the design of novel antimicrobials on the basis of γ-core motif peptides, which can find application in medicine and the protection of crops from diseases.
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8
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Novel QTL Associated with Aerenchyma-Mediated Radial Oxygen Loss (ROL) in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Iron (II) Sulfide. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11060788. [PMID: 35336670 PMCID: PMC8948734 DOI: 10.3390/plants11060788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In rice, high radial oxygen loss (ROL) has been associated with the reduction in the activity of methanogens, therefore reducing the formation of methane (CH4) due to the abundance in application of nitrogen (N)-rich fertilizers. In this study, we evaluated the root growth behavior and ROL rate of a doubled haploid (DH) population (n = 117) and parental lines 93-11 (P1, indica) and Milyang352 (P2, japonica) in response to iron (II) sulfide (FeS). In addition, we performed a linkage mapping and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis on the same population for the target traits. The results of the phenotypic evaluation revealed that parental lines had distinctive root growth and ROL patterns, with 93-11 (indica) and Milyang352 (japonica) showing low and high ROL rates, respectively. This was also reflected in their derived population, indicating that 93.2% of the DH lines exhibited a high ROL rate and about 6.8% had a low ROL pattern. Furthermore, the QTL and linkage map analysis detected two QTLs associated with the control of ROL and root area on chromosomes 2 (qROL-2-1, 127 cM, logarithm of the odds (LOD) 3.04, phenotypic variation explained (PVE) 11.61%) and 8 (qRA-8-1, 97 cM, LOD 4.394, PVE 15.95%), respectively. The positive additive effect (2.532) of qROL-2-1 indicates that the allele from 93-11 contributed to the observed phenotypic variation for ROL. The breakthrough is that the qROL-2-1 harbors genes proposed to be involved in stress signaling, defense response mechanisms, and transcriptional regulation, among others. The qPCR results revealed that the majority of genes harbored by the qROL-2-1 recorded a higher transcript accumulation level in Milyang352 over time compared to 93-11. Another set of genes exhibited a high transcript abundance in P1 compared to P2, while a few were differentially regulated between both parents. Therefore, OsTCP7 and OsMYB21, OsARF8 genes encoding transcription factors (TFs), coupled with OsTRX, OsWBC8, and OsLRR2 are suggested to play important roles in the positive regulation of ROL in rice. However, the recorded differential expression of OsDEF7 and OsEXPA, and the decrease in OsNIP2, Oscb5, and OsPLIM2a TF expression between parental lines proposes them as being involved in the control of oxygen flux level in rice roots.
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9
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Bukhteeva I, Hrunyk NI, Yusypovych YM, Shalovylo YI, Kovaleva V, Nesmelova IV. Structure, dynamics, and function of PsDef2 defensin from Pinus sylvestris. Structure 2022; 30:753-762.e5. [PMID: 35334207 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Plant defensins demonstrate high structural stability at extreme temperatures and pH values and, in general, are non-toxic to mammalian cells. These properties make them attractive candidates for use in biotechnology and biomedicine. Knowing the structure-function relationship is desirable to guide the design of plant defensin-based applications. Thus far, the broad range of biological activities was described only for one defensin from gymnosperms, the defensin PsDef1 from Scots pine. Here, we report that closely related defensin from the same taxonomy group, PsDef2, differing from PsDef1 by six amino acids, also possesses antimicrobial, antibacterial, and insect α-amylase inhibitory activities. We also report the solution structure and dynamics properties of PsDef2 assessed using a combination of experimental nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Lastly, we perform a comparative analysis of PsDef2 and PsDef1 gaining a molecular-level insight into their structure-dynamics-function relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Bukhteeva
- Department of Physics and Optical Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Natalia I Hrunyk
- The Laboratory of Molecular Genetic Markers in Plants, Ukrainian National Forestry University, Lviv 79057, Ukraine
| | - Yuri M Yusypovych
- The Laboratory of Molecular Genetic Markers in Plants, Ukrainian National Forestry University, Lviv 79057, Ukraine
| | - Yulia I Shalovylo
- The Laboratory of Molecular Genetic Markers in Plants, Ukrainian National Forestry University, Lviv 79057, Ukraine
| | - Valentina Kovaleva
- The Laboratory of Molecular Genetic Markers in Plants, Ukrainian National Forestry University, Lviv 79057, Ukraine
| | - Irina V Nesmelova
- Department of Physics and Optical Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
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10
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Sakuma M, Ohta K, Fukada S, Kato H, Naruse T, Nakagawa T, Shigeishi H, Nishi H, Takechi M. Expression of anti-fungal peptide, β-defensin 118 in oral fibroblasts induced by C. albicans β-glucan-containing particles. J Appl Oral Sci 2022; 30:e20210321. [PMID: 35507985 PMCID: PMC9064192 DOI: 10.1590/1678-7757-2021-0321] [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] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Methodology: Results: Conclusion:
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11
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Shalovylo YI, Yusypovych YM, Hrunyk NI, Roman II, Zaika VK, Krynytskyy HT, Nesmelova IV, Kovaleva VA. Seed-derived defensins from Scots pine: structural and functional features. PLANTA 2021; 254:129. [PMID: 34817648 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03788-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The recombinant PsDef5.1 defensin inhibits the growth of phytopathogenic fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and human pathogen Candida albicans. Expression of seed-derived Scots pine defensins is tissue-specific and developmentally regulated. Plant defensins are ubiquitous antimicrobial peptides that possess a broad spectrum of activities and multi-functionality. The genes for these antimicrobial proteins form a multigenic family in the plant genome and are expressed in every organ. Most of the known defensins have been isolated from seeds of various monocot and dicot species, but seed-derived defensins have not yet been characterized in gymnosperms. This study presents the isolation of two new 249 bp cDNA sequences from Scots pine seeds with 97.9% nucleotide homology named PsDef5.1 and PsDef5.2. Their deduced amino acid sequences have typical plant defensin features, including an endoplasmic reticulum signal sequence of 31 amino acids (aa), followed by a characteristic defensin domain of 51 aa. To elucidate the functional activity of new defensins, we expressed the mature form of PsDef5.1 in a prokaryotic system. The purified recombinant peptide exhibited activity against the phytopathogenic fungi and Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria with the IC50 of 5-18 µM. Moreover, it inhibited the growth of the human pathogen Candida albicans with the IC50 of 6.0 µM. Expression analysis showed that transcripts of PsDef5.1-2 genes were present in immature and mature pine seeds and different parts of seedlings at the early stage of germination. In addition, unlike the PsDef5.2, the PsDef5.1 gene was expressed in the reproductive organs. Our findings indicate that novel defensins are promising candidates for transgenic application and the development of new antimicrobial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia I Shalovylo
- Ukrainian National Forestry University, 103, Gen. Chuprynka, St., Lviv, 79057, Ukraine
| | - Yurii M Yusypovych
- Ukrainian National Forestry University, 103, Gen. Chuprynka, St., Lviv, 79057, Ukraine
| | - Nataliya I Hrunyk
- Ukrainian National Forestry University, 103, Gen. Chuprynka, St., Lviv, 79057, Ukraine
| | - Ivan I Roman
- Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, 1, Saksagansky St., Lviv, 79005, Ukraine
| | - Volodymyr K Zaika
- Ukrainian National Forestry University, 103, Gen. Chuprynka, St., Lviv, 79057, Ukraine
| | - Hryhoriy T Krynytskyy
- Ukrainian National Forestry University, 103, Gen. Chuprynka, St., Lviv, 79057, Ukraine
| | - Irina V Nesmelova
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, 28223, USA
| | - Valentina A Kovaleva
- Ukrainian National Forestry University, 103, Gen. Chuprynka, St., Lviv, 79057, Ukraine.
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12
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Synthetic Oligopeptides Mimicking γ-Core Regions of Cysteine-Rich Peptides of Solanum lycopersicum Possess Antimicrobial Activity against Human and Plant Pathogens. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2021; 43:1226-1242. [PMID: 34698084 PMCID: PMC8929047 DOI: 10.3390/cimb43030087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) represent a diverse group of molecules involved in different aspects of plant physiology. Antimicrobial peptides, which directly suppress the growth of pathogens, are regarded as promising templates for the development of next-generation pharmaceuticals and ecologically friendly plant disease control agents. Their oligopeptide fragments are even more promising because of their low production costs. The goal of this work was to explore the antimicrobial activity of nine short peptides derived from the γ-core-containing regions of tomato CRPs against important plant and human pathogens. We discovered antimicrobial activity in peptides derived from the defensin-like peptides, snakins, and MEG, which demonstrates the direct involvement of these CRPs in defense reactions in tomato. The CRP-derived short peptides appeared particularly active against the gram-positive bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis, which causes bacterial wilt—opening up new possibilities for their use in agriculture to control this dangerous disease. Furthermore, high inhibitory potency of short oligopeptides was demonstrated against the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes serious diseases in humans, making these peptide molecules promising candidates for the development of next-generation pharmaceuticals. Studies of the mode of action of the two most active peptides indicate fungal membrane permeabilization as a mechanism of antimicrobial action.
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13
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Sultana A, Luo H, Ramakrishna S. Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Applications in Biomedical Sector. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1094. [PMID: 34572676 PMCID: PMC8465024 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In a report by WHO (2014), it was stated that antimicrobial resistance is an arising challenge that needs to be resolved. This resistance is a critical issue in terms of disease or infection treatment and is usually caused due to mutation, gene transfer, long-term usage or inadequate use of antimicrobials, survival of microbes after consumption of antimicrobials, and the presence of antimicrobials in agricultural feeds. One of the solutions to this problem is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are ubiquitously present in the environment. These peptides are of concern due to their special mode of action against a wide spectrum of infections and health-related problems. The biomedical field has the highest need of AMPs as it possesses prominent desirable activity against HIV-1, skin cancer, breast cancer, in Behcet's disease treatment, as well as in reducing the release of inflammatory cells such as TNFα, IL-8, and IL-1β, enhancing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and GM-CSF, and in wound healing properties. This review has highlighted all the major functions and applications of AMPs in the biomedical field and concludes the future potential of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afreen Sultana
- Center for Nanotechnology & Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117581, Singapore;
| | - Hongrong Luo
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China;
| | - Seeram Ramakrishna
- Center for Nanotechnology & Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117581, Singapore;
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14
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Struyfs C, Cammue BPA, Thevissen K. Membrane-Interacting Antifungal Peptides. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:649875. [PMID: 33912564 PMCID: PMC8074791 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.649875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of invasive fungal infections is increasing worldwide, resulting in more than 1.6 million deaths every year. Due to growing antifungal drug resistance and the limited number of currently used antimycotics, there is a clear need for novel antifungal strategies. In this context, great potential is attributed to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are part of the innate immune system of organisms. These peptides are known for their broad-spectrum activity that can be directed toward bacteria, fungi, viruses, and/or even cancer cells. Some AMPs act via rapid physical disruption of microbial cell membranes at high concentrations causing cell leakage and cell death. However, more complex mechanisms are also observed, such as interaction with specific lipids, production of reactive oxygen species, programmed cell death, and autophagy. This review summarizes the structure and mode of action of antifungal AMPs, thereby focusing on their interaction with fungal membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Struyfs
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno P A Cammue
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karin Thevissen
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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15
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Parthasarathy A, Borrego EJ, Savka MA, Dobson RCJ, Hudson AO. Amino acid-derived defense metabolites from plants: A potential source to facilitate novel antimicrobial development. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100438. [PMID: 33610552 PMCID: PMC8024917 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
For millennia, humanity has relied on plants for its medicines, and modern pharmacology continues to reexamine and mine plant metabolites for novel compounds and to guide improvements in biological activity, bioavailability, and chemical stability. The critical problem of antibiotic resistance and increasing exposure to viral and parasitic diseases has spurred renewed interest into drug treatments for infectious diseases. In this context, an urgent revival of natural product discovery is globally underway with special attention directed toward the numerous and chemically diverse plant defensive compounds such as phytoalexins and phytoanticipins that combat herbivores, microbial pathogens, or competing plants. Moreover, advancements in “omics,” chemistry, and heterologous expression systems have facilitated the purification and characterization of plant metabolites and the identification of possible therapeutic targets. In this review, we describe several important amino acid–derived classes of plant defensive compounds, including antimicrobial peptides (e.g., defensins, thionins, and knottins), alkaloids, nonproteogenic amino acids, and phenylpropanoids as potential drug leads, examining their mechanisms of action, therapeutic targets, and structure–function relationships. Given their potent antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral properties, which can be superior to existing drugs, phytoalexins and phytoanticipins are an excellent resource to facilitate the rational design and development of antimicrobial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anutthaman Parthasarathy
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Eli J Borrego
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Michael A Savka
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Renwick C J Dobson
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - André O Hudson
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA.
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16
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Fernández A, Colombo ML, Curto LM, Gómez GE, Delfino JM, Guzmán F, Bakás L, Malbrán I, Vairo-Cavalli SE. Peptides Derived From the α-Core and γ-Core Regions of a Putative Silybum marianum Flower Defensin Show Antifungal Activity Against Fusarium graminearum. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:632008. [PMID: 33679660 PMCID: PMC7925638 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.632008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is the etiological agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), a disease that produces a significant decrease in wheat crop yield and it is further aggravated by the presence of mycotoxins in the affected grains that may cause health problems to humans and animals. Plant defensins and defensin-like proteins are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); they are small basic, cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) ubiquitously expressed in the plant kingdom and mostly involved in host defence. They present a highly variable sequence but a conserved structure. The γ-core located in the C-terminal region of plant defensins has a conserved β-hairpin structure and is a well-known determinant of the antimicrobial activity among disulphide-containing AMPs. Another conserved motif of plant defensins is the α-core located in the N-terminal region, not conserved among the disulphide-containing AMPs, it has not been yet extensively studied. In this report, we have cloned the putative antimicrobial protein DefSm2, expressed in flowers of the wild plant Silybum marianum. The cDNA encodes a protein with two fused basic domains of an N-terminal defensin domain (DefSm2-D) and a C-terminal Arg-rich and Lys-rich domain. To further characterize the DefSm2-D domain, we built a 3D template-based model that will serve to support the design of novel antifungal peptides. We have designed four potential antifungal peptides: two from the DefSm2-D α-core region (SmAPα1-21 and SmAPα10-21) and two from the γ-core region (SmAPγ27-44 and SmAPγ29-35). We have chemically synthesized and purified the peptides and further characterized them by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. SmAPα1-21, SmAPα10-21, and SmAPγ27-44 inhibited the growth of the phytopathogen F. graminearum at low micromolar concentrations. Conidia exposure to the fungicidal concentration of the peptides caused membrane permeabilization to the fluorescent probe propidium iodide (PI), suggesting that this is one of the main contributing factors in fungal cell killing. Furthermore, conidia treated for 0.5h showed cytoplasmic disorganization as observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Remarkably, the peptides derived from the α-core induced morphological changes on the conidia cell wall, which is a promising target since its distinctive biochemical and structural organization is absent in plant and mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Fernández
- CIPROVE-Centro Asociado CIC, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Laura Colombo
- CIPROVE-Centro Asociado CIC, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Lucrecia M Curto
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas (IQUIFIB), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela E Gómez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas (IQUIFIB), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José M Delfino
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas (IQUIFIB), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fanny Guzmán
- Núcleo de Biotecnología Curauma (NBC), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Laura Bakás
- CIPROVE-Centro Asociado CIC, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.,Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ismael Malbrán
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones de Fitopatología (CIDEFI-UNLP-CIC), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Sandra E Vairo-Cavalli
- CIPROVE-Centro Asociado CIC, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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17
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Toledo EB, Lucas DR, Simão TLBV, Calixto SD, Lassounskaia E, Muzitano MF, Damica FZ, Gomes VM, de Oliveira Carvalho A. Design of improved synthetic antifungal peptides with targeted variations in charge, hydrophobicity and chirality based on a correlation study between biological activity and primary structure of plant defensin γ-cores. Amino Acids 2021; 53:219-237. [PMID: 33483849 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-020-02929-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Microbial resistance to available drugs is a growing health threat imposing the need for the development of new drugs. The scaffold of plant defensins, including their γ-cores, are particularly good candidates for drug design. This work aimed to improve the antifungal activity of a previous design peptide, named A36,42,44γ32-46VuDef (for short DD) against yeasts by altering its biochemical parameters. We explore the correlation of the biological activity and structure of plant defensins and compared their primary structures by superimposition with VuDef1 and DD which indicated us the favorable position and the amino acid to be changed. Three new peptides with modifications in charge, hydrophobicity (RR and WR) and chirality (D-RR) were designed and tested against pathogenic yeasts. Inhibition was determined by absorbance. Viability of mammalian cells was determined by MTT. The three designed peptides had better inhibitory activity against the yeasts with better potency and spectrum of yeast species inhibition, with low toxicity to mammalian cells. WR, the most hydrophobic and cationic, exhibited better antifungal activity and lower toxicity. Our study provides experimental evidence that targeted changes in the primary structure of peptides based on plant defensins γ-core primary structures prove to be a good tool for the synthesis of new compounds that may be useful as alternative antifungal drugs. The method described did not have the drawback of synthesis of several peptides, because alterations are guided. When compared to other methods, the design process described is efficient and viable to those with scarce resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefany Braz Toledo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquímica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, nº 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Douglas Ribeiro Lucas
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquímica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, nº 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Thatiana Lopes Biá Ventura Simão
- Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Sanderson Dias Calixto
- Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Elena Lassounskaia
- Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Michele Frazão Muzitano
- Laboratório de Produtos Bioativos, Curso de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Macaé, Pólo Novo Cavaleiro-IMMT, Macaé, RJ, 27933-378, Brazil
| | - Filipe Zanirati Damica
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquímica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, nº 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Valdirene Moreira Gomes
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquímica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, nº 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP 28013-602, Brazil
| | - André de Oliveira Carvalho
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquímica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, nº 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, CEP 28013-602, Brazil.
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18
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Pandey B, Tyagi C, Prajapati GK, Mishra AK, Hashem A, Alqarawi AA, Abd_Allah EF, Mohanta TK. Analysis of mutations of defensin protein using accelerated molecular dynamics simulations. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241679. [PMID: 33253167 PMCID: PMC7703945 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant defensins possess diverse biological functions that include antifungal and antibacterial activities and α-amylase and trypsin inhibitory properties. Two mutations, G9R and V39R, were confirmed to increase the antifungal activity of Raphanus sativus antifungal protein 2 (RsAFP2). Accelerated Molecular Dynamics (aMD) were carried out to examine the conformational changes present in these RsAFP2 mutants, and its two closest homologs compared to the wild-type protein. Specifically, the root mean square fluctuation values for the eight cysteine amino acids involved in the four disulfide bonds were low in the V39R mutant compared to the wild-type. Additionally, analysis of the free energy change revealed that G9R and V39R mutations exert a neutral and stabilizing effect on RsAFP2 conformation, and this is supported by the observed lower total energy of mutants compared to the wild-type, suggesting that enhanced stability of the mutants. However, MD simulations to a longer time scale would aid in capturing more conformational state of the wild-type and mutants defensin protein. Furthermore, the aMD simulations on fungal mimic membranes with RsAFP2 and its mutants and homologs showed that the mutant proteins caused higher deformation and water diffusion than the native RsAFP2, especially the V39R mutant. The mutant variants seem to interact by specifically targeting the POPC and POPI lipids amongst others. This work highlights the stabilizing effect of mutations at the 9th and 39th positions of RsAFP2 and their increased membrane deformation activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharati Pandey
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Chetna Tyagi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gopal Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Bio-Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Awdhesh Kumar Mishra
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (AKM); , (TKM)
| | - Abeer Hashem
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Mycology and Plant Disease Survey Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, ARC, Giza, Egypt
| | - Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi
- Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah
- Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tapan Kumar Mohanta
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
- * E-mail: (AKM); , (TKM)
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19
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Skalska J, Andrade VM, Cena GL, Harvey PJ, Gaspar D, Mello ÉO, Henriques ST, Valle J, Gomes VM, Conceição K, Castanho MARB, Andreu D. Synthesis, Structure, and Activity of the Antifungal Plant Defensin PvD 1. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9391-9402. [PMID: 32787086 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Available treatments for invasive fungal infections have limitations, including toxicity and the emergence of resistant strains. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative solutions. Because of their unique mode of action and high selectivity, plant defensins (PDs) are worthy therapeutic candidates. Chemical synthesis remains a preferred method for the production of many peptide-based therapeutics. Given the relatively long sequence of PDs, as well as their complicated posttranslational modifications, the synthetic route can be considered challenging. Here, we describe a total synthesis of PvD1, the defensin from the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris. Analytical, structural, and functional characterization revealed that both natural and synthetic peptides fold into a canonical CSαβ motif stabilized by conserved disulfide bonds. Moreover, synthetic PvD1 retained the biological activity against four different Candida species and showed no toxicity in vivo. Adding the high resistance of synthetic PvD1 to proteolytic degradation, we claim that conditions are now met to consider PDs druggable biologicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Skalska
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vitor M Andrade
- Laboratório de Bioquı́mica de Peptı́deos, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 12231-280 São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Gabrielle L Cena
- Laboratório de Bioquı́mica de Peptı́deos, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 12231-280 São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Peta J Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Diana Gaspar
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Érica O Mello
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquı́mica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologı́a, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013-602 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sónia T Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation and Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Javier Valle
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valdirene M Gomes
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquı́mica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologı́a, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013-602 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Katia Conceição
- Laboratório de Bioquı́mica de Peptı́deos, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 12231-280 São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Miguel A R B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - David Andreu
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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20
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Plant Defensins from a Structural Perspective. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155307. [PMID: 32722628 PMCID: PMC7432377 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant defensins form a family of proteins with a broad spectrum of protective activities against fungi, bacteria, and insects. Furthermore, some plant defensins have revealed anticancer activity. In general, plant defensins are non-toxic to plant and mammalian cells, and interest in using them for biotechnological and medicinal purposes is growing. Recent studies provided significant insights into the mechanisms of action of plant defensins. In this review, we focus on structural and dynamics aspects and discuss structure-dynamics-function relations of plant defensins.
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21
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Odintsova TI, Slezina MP, Istomina EA. Defensins of Grasses: A Systematic Review. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10071029. [PMID: 32664422 PMCID: PMC7407236 DOI: 10.3390/biom10071029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The grass family (Poaceae) is one of the largest families of flowering plants, growing in all climatic zones of all continents, which includes species of exceptional economic importance. The high adaptability of grasses to adverse environmental factors implies the existence of efficient resistance mechanisms that involve the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Of plant AMPs, defensins represent one of the largest and best-studied families. Although wheat and barley seed γ-thionins were the first defensins isolated from plants, the functional characterization of grass defensins is still in its infancy. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the characterized defensins from cultivated and selected wild-growing grasses. For each species, isolation of defensins or production by heterologous expression, peptide structure, biological activity, and structure–function relationship are described, along with the gene expression data. We also provide our results on in silico mining of defensin-like sequences in the genomes of all described grass species and discuss their potential functions. The data presented will form the basis for elucidation of the mode of action of grass defensins and high adaptability of grasses to environmental stress and will provide novel potent molecules for practical use in medicine and agriculture.
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22
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Ochiai A, Ogawa K, Fukuda M, Suzuki M, Ito K, Tanaka T, Sagehashi Y, Taniguchi M. Crystal structure of rice defensin OsAFP1 and molecular insight into lipid-binding. J Biosci Bioeng 2020; 130:6-13. [PMID: 32192842 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2020.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Defensins are antibacterial peptides that function in the innate immune system. OsAFP1, a defensin identified from Oryza sativa (rice), exhibits antimicrobial activity against rice pathogens. Intriguingly, OsAFP1 was also shown to demonstrate potent antifungal activity against the human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans by inducing apoptosis in target cells, suggesting that OsAFP1 represents a potential new antibiotic candidate; however, further analyses, particularly at the structural level, are required to elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings of OsAFP1 antifungal activity. Here, we determined the three-dimensional structure of OsAFP1 using X-ray crystallography. OsAFP1 features the cysteine-stabilized αβ structure highly conserved in plant defensins and presents a dimeric structure that appears necessary for antifungal activity. Superimposition of the OsAFP1 structure with that of Nicotiana alata NaD1 complexed with phosphatidic acid indicated that the target molecule is likely trapped between the S2-S3 loops of each OsAFP1 dimer. In lipid-binding analyses performed using nitrocellulose membranes immobilized with various membrane lipid components, OsAFP1 was found to bind to phosphatidylinositols (PIPs) harboring phosphate groups, particularly PI(3)P. These results indicate that OsAFP1 exerts antifungal activity by binding to PI(3)P contained in the C. albicans cell membrane, thereby applying cellular stress and inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, the OsAFP1 structure and site-specific-mutation analyses revealed that Arg1, His2, Leu4, Arg9, and Phe10 play critical roles in OsAFP1 dimer formation. Thus, our study provides novel insights into the antifungal mechanism of OsAFP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihito Ochiai
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan; Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan.
| | - Kodai Ogawa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Minami Fukuda
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Masami Suzuki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Kosuke Ito
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Takaaki Tanaka
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan; Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Sagehashi
- Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Hokkaido 062-8555, Japan
| | - Masayuki Taniguchi
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan; Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
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Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Alvarez-Ordóñez A, Bolton D, Bover-Cid S, Chemaly M, Davies R, De Cesare A, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Peixe L, Ru G, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Cocconcelli PS, Fernández Escámez PS, Maradona MP, Querol A, Suarez JE, Sundh I, Vlak J, Barizzone F, Correia S, Herman L. Update of the list of QPS-recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 10: Suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until March 2019. EFSA J 2019; 17:e05753. [PMID: 32626372 PMCID: PMC7009089 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) procedure was developed to provide a harmonised generic pre-evaluation to support safety risk assessments of biological agents performed by EFSA's Scientific Panels. The taxonomic identity, body of knowledge, safety concerns and antimicrobial resistance were assessed. Safety concerns identified for a taxonomic unit (TU) are, where possible and reasonable in number, reflected by 'qualifications' which should be assessed at the strain level by the EFSA's Scientific Panels. During the current assessment, no new information was found that would change the previously recommended QPS TUs and their qualifications. The list of microorganisms notified to EFSA from applications for market authorisation was updated with 47 biological agents, received between October 2018 and March 2019. Of these, 19 already had QPS status, 20 were excluded from the QPS exercise by the previous QPS mandate (11 filamentous fungi) or from further evaluations within the current mandate (9 notifications of Escherichia coli). Sphingomonas elodea, Gluconobacter frateurii, Corynebacterium ammoniagenes, Corynebacterium casei, Burkholderia ubonensis, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Microbacterium foliorum and Euglena gracilis were evaluated for the first time. Sphingomonas elodea cannot be assessed for a possible QPS recommendation because it is not a valid species. Corynebacterium ammoniagenes and Euglena gracilis can be recommended for the QPS list with the qualification 'for production purposes only'. The following TUs cannot be recommended for the QPS list: Burkholderia ubonensis, due to its potential and confirmed ability to generate biologically active compounds and limited of body of knowledge; Corynebacterium casei, Gluconobacter frateurii and Microbacterium foliorum, due to lack of body of knowledge; Phaeodactylum tricornutum, based on the lack of a safe history of use in the food chain and limited knowledge on its potential production of bioactive compounds with possible toxic effects.
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Park SC, Kim JY, Kim EJ, Cheong GW, Lee Y, Choi W, Lee JR, Jang MK. Hydrophilic Linear Peptide with Histidine and Lysine Residues as a Key Factor Affecting Antifungal Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19123781. [PMID: 30486512 PMCID: PMC6321124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Increases in the numbers of immunocompromised patients and the emergence of drug-resistance fungal pathogens have led to the need for new, safe, efficacious antifungal agents. In this study, we designed a histidine-lysine-lysine (HKK) motif and synthesized six HKK peptides with repetitions of the motif. These peptides showed length-dependent antifungal activity against drug-susceptible and drug-resistant fungal pathogens via membranolytic or non-membranolytic action. None of the peptides were cytotoxic to rat erythrocytes or NIH3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Short-length peptides were directly translocated in fungal cytosol and reacted with mitochondria, resulting in apoptosis. Membrane-permeabilizing activity occurred in the presence of long peptides, and peptides were able to transfer to the cytosol and induce reactive oxygen species. Our results suggest that peptides composed only of cationic amino acids may be good candidates as antifungal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Cheol Park
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam 57922, Korea.
| | - Jin-Young Kim
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam 57922, Korea.
| | - Eun-Ji Kim
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam 57922, Korea.
| | - Gang-Won Cheong
- Division of Applied Life Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam 52828, Korea.
| | - Yongjae Lee
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Wonkyun Choi
- National Institute of Ecology (NIE), Seocheon, Choongnam 33657, Korea.
| | - Jung Ro Lee
- National Institute of Ecology (NIE), Seocheon, Choongnam 33657, Korea.
| | - Mi-Kyeong Jang
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam 57922, Korea.
- The Research Institute for Sanitation and Environment of Coastal Areas, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam 57922, Korea.
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