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Gutierrez CDO, Almeida LHDO, Sardi JDCO, Almeida CV, de Oliveira CFR, Marchetto R, Crusca E, Buccini DF, Franco OL, Cardoso MH, Macedo MLR. Boosting the antibacterial potential of a linear encrypted peptide in a Kunitz-type inhibitor (ApTI) through physicochemical-guided approaches. Biochimie 2024:S0300-9084(24)00168-8. [PMID: 39029576 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.07.009] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial resistance has become a serious public health problem in recent years, thus encouraging the search for new antimicrobial agents. Here, we report an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), called PEPAD, which was designed based on an encrypted peptide from a Kunitz-type plant peptidase inhibitor. PEPAD was capable of rapidly inhibiting and eliminating numerous bacterial species at micromolar concentrations (from 4 μM to 10 μM), with direct membrane activity. It was also observed that the peptide can act synergistically with ciprofloxacin and showed no toxicity in the G. mellonella in vivo assay. Circular dichroism assays revealed that the peptide's secondary structure adopts different scaffolds depending on the environment in which it is inserted. In lipids mimicking bacterial cell membranes, PEPAD adopts a more stable α-helical structure, which is consistent with its membrane-associated mechanism of action. When in contact with lipids mimicking mammalian cells, PEPAD adopts a disordered structure, losing its function and suggesting cellular selectivity. Therefore, these findings make PEPAD a promising candidate for future antimicrobial therapies with low toxicity to the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila de Oliveira Gutierrez
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e Suas Funções Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Luís Henrique de Oliveira Almeida
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e Suas Funções Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Janaina de Cássia Orlandi Sardi
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e Suas Funções Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Claudiane Vilharroel Almeida
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e Suas Funções Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Caio Fernando Ramalho de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e Suas Funções Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Reinaldo Marchetto
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Química, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edson Crusca
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Química, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Octavio Luiz Franco
- S-Inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil; Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Marlon Henrique Cardoso
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e Suas Funções Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil; S-Inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil; Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Maria Lígia Rodrigues Macedo
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e Suas Funções Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
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2
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Kumar A, Mishra B, Konar AD, Mylonakis E, Basu A. Molecular Dynamics Simulations Help Determine the Molecular Mechanisms of Lasioglossin-III and Its Variant Peptides' Membrane Interfacial Interactions. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:6049-6058. [PMID: 38840325 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c02387] [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: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Lasioglossin-III (LL-III) is a potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide used in diverse antimicrobial applications. In this work, coarse-grained and all-atom molecular dynamics simulation strategies were used in tandem to interpret the molecular mechanisms involved in the interfacial dynamics of LL-III and its recombinant variants during interactions with diverse cell membrane systems. Our results indicate that the membrane charges act as the driving force for initiating the membrane-peptide interactions, while the hydrophobic or van der Waals forces help to reinforce the membrane-peptide bindings. The optimized charge-hydrophobicity ratio of the LL-III peptides helps ensure their high specificity toward bacterial membranes compared to mammalian membrane systems, which also helps explain our experimental observations. Overall, we hope that our work gives new insight into the antimicrobial action of LL-III peptides and that the adopted simulation strategy will help other scientists and engineers extract maximal information from complex molecular simulations using minimal computational power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atul Kumar
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rajiv Gandhi Technological University, Airport Bypass Road, Gandhinagar, Bhopal 462033, India
| | - Biswajit Mishra
- Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Anita Dutt Konar
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rajiv Gandhi Technological University, Airport Bypass Road, Gandhinagar, Bhopal 462033, India
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Rajiv Gandhi Technological University, Bhopal 462033, India
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Anindya Basu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rajiv Gandhi Technological University, Airport Bypass Road, Gandhinagar, Bhopal 462033, India
- School of Biomolecular Engineering and Biotechnology, Rajiv Gandhi Technological University, Bhopal 462033, India
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3
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Li L, Wang R, Zhao B, Yin B, Zhang H, Liang C, Hu X. Enzyme-Triggered Polyelectrolyte Complex for Responsive Delivery of α-Helical Polypeptides to Optimize Antibacterial Therapy. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:3112-3121. [PMID: 38651274 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00206] [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: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Responsive nanomaterials hold significant promise in the treatment of bacterial infections by recognizing internal or external stimuli to achieve stimuli-responsive behavior. In this study, we present an enzyme-responsive polyelectrolyte complex micelles (PTPMN) with α-helical cationic polypeptide as a coacervate-core for the treatment of Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection. The complex was constructed through electrostatic interaction between cationic poly(glutamic acid) derivatives and phosphorylation-modified poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(tyrosine) (PEG-b-PPTyr) by directly dissolving them in aqueous solution. The cationic polypeptide adopted α-helical structure and demonstrated excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as low as 12.5 μg mL-1 against E. coli. By complexing with anionic PEG-b-PPTyr, the obtained complex formed β-sheet structures and exhibited good biocompatibility and low hemolysis. When incubated in a bacterial environment, the complex cleaved its phosphate groups triggered by phosphatases secreted by bacteria, exposing the highly α-helical conformation and restoring its effective bactericidal ability. In vivo experiments confirmed accelerated healing in E. coli-infected wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuxuan Li
- Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, PR China
| | - Ruoxue Wang
- Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, PR China
| | - Bo Zhao
- School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, PR China
| | - Bowen Yin
- Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, PR China
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, PR China
| | - Chunyong Liang
- School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, PR China
| | - Xiuli Hu
- Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, PR China
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4
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Sharma P, Vaiwala R, Gopinath AK, Chockalingam R, Ayappa KG. Structure of the Bacterial Cell Envelope and Interactions with Antimicrobials: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:7791-7811. [PMID: 38451026 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved over 3 billion years, shaping our intrinsic and symbiotic coexistence with these single-celled organisms. With rising populations of drug-resistant strains, the search for novel antimicrobials is an ongoing area of research. Advances in high-performance computing platforms have led to a variety of molecular dynamics simulation strategies to study the interactions of antimicrobial molecules with different compartments of the bacterial cell envelope of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. In this review, we begin with a detailed description of the structural aspects of the bacterial cell envelope. Simulations concerned with the transport and associated free energy of small molecules and ions through the outer membrane, peptidoglycan, inner membrane and outer membrane porins are discussed. Since surfactants are widely used as antimicrobials, a section is devoted to the interactions of surfactants with the cell wall and inner membranes. The review ends with a discussion on antimicrobial peptides and the insights gained from the molecular simulations on the free energy of translocation. Challenges involved in developing accurate molecular models and coarse-grained strategies that provide a trade-off between atomic details with a gain in sampling time are highlighted. The need for efficient sampling strategies to obtain accurate free energies of translocation is also discussed. Molecular dynamics simulations have evolved as a powerful tool that can potentially be used to design and develop novel antimicrobials and strategies to effectively treat bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradyumn Sharma
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 560012
| | - Rakesh Vaiwala
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 560012
| | - Amar Krishna Gopinath
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 560012
| | - Rajalakshmi Chockalingam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 560012
| | - K Ganapathy Ayappa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 560012
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5
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Balleza D. Peptide Flexibility and the Hydrophobic Moment are Determinants to Evaluate the Clinical Potential of Magainins. J Membr Biol 2023; 256:317-330. [PMID: 37097306 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-023-00286-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Using a flexibility prediction algorithm and in silico structural modeling, we have calculated the intrinsic flexibility of several magainin derivatives. In the case of magainin-2 (Mag-2) and magainin H2 (MAG-H2) we have found that MAG-2 is more flexible than its hydrophobic analog, Mag-H2. This affects the degree of bending of both peptides, with a kink around two central residues (R10, R11), whereas, in Mag-H2, W10 stiffens the peptide. Moreover, this increases the hydrophobic moment of Mag-H2, which could explain its propensity to form pores in POPC model membranes, which exhibit near-to-zero spontaneous curvatures. Likewise, the protective effect described in DOPC membranes for this peptide regarding its facilitation in pore formation would be related to the propensity of this lipid to form membranes with negative spontaneous curvature. The flexibility of another magainin analog (MSI-78) is even greater than that of Mag-2. This facilitates the peptide to present a kind of hinge around the central F12 as well as a C-terminal end prone to be disordered. Such characteristics are key to understanding the broad-spectrum antimicrobial actions exhibited by this peptide. These data reinforce the hypothesis on the determinant role of spontaneous membrane curvature, intrinsic peptide flexibility, and specific hydrophobic moment in assessing the bioactivity of membrane-active antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Balleza
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Alimentos, Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Veracruz, Mexico.
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6
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Clarke M, Hind CK, Ferguson PM, Manzo G, Mistry B, Yue B, Romanopulos J, Clifford M, Bui TT, Drake AF, Lorenz CD, Sutton JM, Mason AJ. Synergy between Winter Flounder antimicrobial peptides. NPJ ANTIMICROBIALS AND RESISTANCE 2023; 1:8. [PMID: 38686212 PMCID: PMC11057203 DOI: 10.1038/s44259-023-00010-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Some antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have potent bactericidal activity and are being considered as potential alternatives to classical antibiotics. In response to an infection, such AMPs are often produced in animals alongside other peptides with low or no perceivable antimicrobial activity, whose role is unclear. Here we show that six AMPs from the Winter Flounder (WF) act in synergy against a range of bacterial pathogens and provide mechanistic insights into how this increases the cooperativity of the dose-dependent bactericidal activity and potency that enable therapy. Only two WF AMPs have potent antimicrobial activity when used alone but we find a series of two-way combinations, involving peptides which otherwise have low or no activity, yield potent antimicrobial activity. Weakly active WF AMPs modulate the membrane interactions of the more potent WF AMPs and enable therapy in a model of Acinetobacter baumannii burn wound infection. The observed synergy and emergent behaviour may explain the evolutionary benefits of producing a family of related peptides and are attractive properties to consider when developing AMPs towards clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Clarke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Charlotte K. Hind
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG UK
| | - Philip M. Ferguson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Bhumil Mistry
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Bingkun Yue
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Janis Romanopulos
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Melanie Clifford
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG UK
| | - Tam T. Bui
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, New Hunt’s House, London, SE1 1UL UK
| | - Alex F. Drake
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, New Hunt’s House, London, SE1 1UL UK
| | | | - J. Mark Sutton
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG UK
| | - A. James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
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7
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Rončević T, Maleš M, Sonavane Y, Guida F, Pacor S, Tossi A, Zoranić L. Relating Molecular Dynamics Simulations to Functional Activity for Gly-Rich Membranolytic Helical Kiadin Peptides. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15051433. [PMID: 37242675 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051433] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Kiadins are in silico designed peptides with a strong similarity to diPGLa-H, a tandem sequence of PGLa-H (KIAKVALKAL) and with single, double or quadruple glycine substitutions. They were found to show high variability in their activity and selectivity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, as well as cytotoxicity against host cells, which are influenced by the number and placing of glycine residues along the sequence. The conformational flexibility introduced by these substitutions contributes differently peptide structuring and to their interactions with the model membranes, as observed by molecular dynamics simulations. We relate these results to experimentally determined data on the structure of kiadins and their interactions with liposomes having a phospholipid membrane composition similar to simulation membrane models, as well as to their antibacterial and cytotoxic activities, and also discuss the challenges in interpreting these multiscale experiments and understanding why the presence of glycine residues in the sequence affected the antibacterial potency and toxicity towards host cells in a different manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomislav Rončević
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Matko Maleš
- Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Yogesh Sonavane
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Filomena Guida
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Sabrina Pacor
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tossi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Larisa Zoranić
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
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8
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You Y, Liu H, Zhu Y, Zheng H. Rational design of stapled antimicrobial peptides. Amino Acids 2023; 55:421-442. [PMID: 36781451 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-023-03245-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The global increase in antimicrobial drug resistance has dramatically reduced the effectiveness of traditional antibiotics. Structurally diverse antibiotics are urgently needed to combat multiple-resistant bacterial infections. As part of innate immunity, antimicrobial peptides have been recognized as the most promising candidates because they comprise diverse sequences and mechanisms of action and have a relatively low induction rate of resistance. However, because of their low chemical stability, susceptibility to proteases, and high hemolytic effect, their usage is subject to many restrictions. Chemical modifications such as D-amino acid substitution, cyclization, and unnatural amino acid modification have been used to improve the stability of antimicrobial peptides for decades. Among them, a side-chain covalent bridge modification, the so-called stapled peptide, has attracted much attention. The stapled side-chain bridge stabilizes the secondary structure, induces protease resistance, and increases cell penetration and biological activity. Recent progress in computer-aided drug design and artificial intelligence methods has also been used in the design of stapled antimicrobial peptides and has led to the successful discovery of many prospective peptides. This article reviews the possible structure-activity relationships of stapled antimicrobial peptides, the physicochemical properties that influence their activity (such as net charge, hydrophobicity, helicity, and dipole moment), and computer-aided methods of stapled peptide design. Antimicrobial peptides under clinical trial: Pexiganan (NCT01594762, 2012-05-07). Omiganan (NCT02576847, 2015-10-13).
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Affiliation(s)
- YuHao You
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - HongYu Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - YouZhuo Zhu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Heng Zheng
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
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9
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Sharma P, Ayappa KG. A Molecular Dynamics Study of Antimicrobial Peptide Interactions with the Lipopolysaccharides of the Outer Bacterial Membrane. J Membr Biol 2022; 255:665-675. [PMID: 35960325 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-022-00258-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
With rising bacterial resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been widely investigated as potential antibacterial molecules to replace conventional antibiotics. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms for membrane disruption are largely based on AMP interactions with the inner phospholipid bilayers of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Mechanisms for AMP translocation across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria composed of lipopolysaccharides and the asymmetric lipid bilayer are complicated by the secondary structure adopted by the peptide in the different membrane environments. We have employed atomistic molecular dynamics and umbrella-sampling simulations with an aggregate duration of [Formula: see text] 6 microseconds to obtain the free energy landscape of CM15 peptide translocating through the lipopolysaccharide region of Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli. The peptide has a favorable binding-free energy (- 130 kJ mol[Formula: see text]) in the O-antigen region with a large barrier (150 kJ mol[Formula: see text]) at the interface between the anionic core saccharides and upper bilayer leaflet made up of lipid-A molecules. Restraint-free molecular dynamics simulations show that the random coil structure is favored over the helix in both the extracellular aqueous region and the cation-rich core-saccharide regions of the outer membrane. The peptide and membrane properties are analyzed at each of the 100 ns duration of the umbrella-sampling windows to illustrate changes in peptide length, orientation, and hydration. Our study provides insights into the free energy landscape for the insertion of the AMP CM15 in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, and we discuss the implications of our findings with the broader question of how AMPs overcome this barrier during antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradyumn Sharma
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India.,Eli Lilly Services India Private Limited, Bengaluru, 560103, India
| | - K Ganapathy Ayappa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India.
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10
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Cardoso MH, Chan LY, Cândido ES, Buccini DF, Rezende SB, Torres MDT, Oshiro KGN, Silva ÍC, Gonçalves S, Lu TK, Santos NC, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Craik DJ, Franco OL. An N-capping asparagine-lysine-proline (NKP) motif contributes to a hybrid flexible/stable multifunctional peptide scaffold. Chem Sci 2022; 13:9410-9424. [PMID: 36093022 PMCID: PMC9383710 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06998e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural diversity drives multiple biological activities and mechanisms of action in linear peptides. Here we describe an unusual N-capping asparagine-lysine-proline (NKP) motif that confers a hybrid multifunctional scaffold to a computationally designed peptide (PaDBS1R7). PaDBS1R7 has a shorter α-helix segment than other computationally designed peptides of similar sequence but with key residue substitutions. Although this motif acts as an α-helix breaker in PaDBS1R7, the Asn5 presents exclusive N-capping effects, forming a belt to establish hydrogen bonds for an amphipathic α-helix stabilization. The combination of these different structural profiles was described as a coil/N-cap/α-helix scaffold, which was also observed in diverse computational peptide mutants. Biological studies revealed that all peptides displayed antibacterial activities. However, only PaDBS1R7 displayed anticancer properties, eradicated Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, decreased bacterial counts by 100-1000-fold in vivo, reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages stress, and stimulated fibroblast migration for wound healing. This study extends our understanding of an N-capping NKP motif to engineering hybrid multifunctional peptide drug candidates with potent anti-infective and immunomodulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlon H Cardoso
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília SGAN 916 Módulo B, Asa Norte, Brasília - DF 70790160 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro Asa Norte Brasília - DF 70910900 Brazil
- Instituto de Biociências (INBIO), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária 79070900 Campo Grande Mato Grosso do Sul Brazil
| | - Lai Y Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - Elizabete S Cândido
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília SGAN 916 Módulo B, Asa Norte, Brasília - DF 70790160 Brazil
| | - Danieli F Buccini
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
| | - Samilla B Rezende
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
| | - Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Karen G N Oshiro
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro Asa Norte Brasília - DF 70910900 Brazil
| | - Ítala C Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Sónia Gonçalves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Biological Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge - MA 02139 USA
| | - Nuno C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - 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 QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - Octávio L Franco
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília SGAN 916 Módulo B, Asa Norte, Brasília - DF 70790160 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro Asa Norte Brasília - DF 70910900 Brazil
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11
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Ferguson PM, Clarke M, Manzo G, Hind CK, Clifford M, Sutton JM, Lorenz CD, Phoenix DA, Mason AJ. Temporin B Forms Hetero-Oligomers with Temporin L, Modifies Its Membrane Activity, and Increases the Cooperativity of Its Antibacterial Pharmacodynamic Profile. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1029-1040. [PMID: 35609188 PMCID: PMC9178791 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The pharmacodynamic
profile of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and
their in vivo synergy are two factors that are thought
to restrict resistance evolution and ensure their conservation. The
frog Rana temporaria secretes a family of closely
related AMPs, temporins A–L, as an effective chemical dermal
defense. The antibacterial potency of temporin L has been shown to
increase synergistically in combination with both temporins B and
A, but this is modest. Here we show that the less potent temporin
B enhances the cooperativity of the in vitro antibacterial
activity of the more potent temporin L against EMRSA-15 and that this
may be associated with an altered interaction with the bacterial plasma
membrane, a feature critical for the antibacterial activity of most
AMPs. Addition of buforin II, a histone H2A fragment, can further
increase the cooperativity. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate
temporins B and L readily form hetero-oligomers in models of Gram-positive
bacterial plasma membranes. Patch-clamp studies show transmembrane
ion conductance is triggered with lower amounts of both peptides and
more quickly when used in combination, but conductance is of a lower
amplitude and pores are smaller. Temporin B may therefore act by forming
temporin L/B hetero-oligomers that are more effective than temporin
L homo-oligomers at bacterial killing and/or by reducing the probability
of the latter forming until a threshold concentration is reached.
Exploration of the mechanism of synergy between AMPs isolated from
the same organism may therefore yield antibiotic combinations with
advantageous pharmacodynamic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip M Ferguson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Clarke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte K Hind
- Technology Development Group, UKHSA, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Clifford
- Technology Development Group, UKHSA, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - J Mark Sutton
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom.,Technology Development Group, UKHSA, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Christian D Lorenz
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | - David A Phoenix
- School of Applied Science, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - A James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
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12
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Kopiasz RJ, Zabost A, Myszka M, Kuźmińska A, Drężek K, Mierzejewska J, Tomaszewski W, Iwańska A, Augustynowicz-Kopeć E, Ciach T, Jańczewski D. Main-chain flexibility and hydrophobicity of ionenes strongly impact their antimicrobial activity: an extended study on drug resistance strains and Mycobacterium. RSC Adv 2022; 12:26220-26232. [PMID: 36275090 PMCID: PMC9477016 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra04121a] [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: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and the resurgence of tuberculosis disease are major motivations to search for novel antimicrobial agents. Some promising candidates in this respect are cationic polymers, also known as synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides (SMAMPs), which act through the membrane-lytic mechanism. Development of resistance toward SMAMPs is less likely than toward currently employed antibiotics; however, further studies are needed to better understand their structure–activity relationship. The main objective of this work is to understand the cross-influence of hydrophobicity, main-chain flexibility, and the topology of ionenes (polycations containing a cationic moiety within the main-chain) on activity. To fulfill this goal, a library of ionenes was developed and compared with previously investigated molecules. The obtained compounds display promising activity against the model microorganisms and drug-resistance clinical isolates, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The killing efficiency was also investigated, and results confirm a strong effect of hydrophobicity, revealing higher activity for molecules possessing the flexible linker within the polymer main-chain. A high significance of the main chain flexibility and an unexpected effect of hydrophobicity on the biological activity in series of ionenes was observed. The most potent among the tested polycations showed high activity toward clinical bacterial isolates.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Jerzy Kopiasz
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, Warsaw 00-664, Poland
| | - Anna Zabost
- Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Płocka 26, Warsaw 01-138, Poland
| | - Magdalena Myszka
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, Warsaw 00-664, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Kuźmińska
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Waryńskiego 1, Warsaw 00-645, Poland
| | - Karolina Drężek
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, Warsaw 00-664, Poland
| | - Jolanta Mierzejewska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, Warsaw 00-664, Poland
| | - Waldemar Tomaszewski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, Warsaw 00-664, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Iwańska
- Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Płocka 26, Warsaw 01-138, Poland
| | - Ewa Augustynowicz-Kopeć
- Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Płocka 26, Warsaw 01-138, Poland
| | - Tomasz Ciach
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Waryńskiego 1, Warsaw 00-645, Poland
| | - Dominik Jańczewski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, Warsaw 00-664, Poland
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13
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Wang H, Zhao J, Zhao H, Li H, Wang J. CL-ACP: a parallel combination of CNN and LSTM anticancer peptide recognition model. BMC Bioinformatics 2021; 22:512. [PMID: 34670488 PMCID: PMC8527680 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-021-04433-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anticancer peptides are defence substances with innate immune functions that can selectively act on cancer cells without harming normal cells and many studies have been conducted to identify anticancer peptides. In this paper, we introduce the anticancer peptide secondary structures as additional features and propose an effective computational model, CL-ACP, that uses a combined network and attention mechanism to predict anticancer peptides. RESULTS The CL-ACP model uses secondary structures and original sequences of anticancer peptides to construct the feature space. The long short-term memory and convolutional neural network are used to extract the contextual dependence and local correlations of the feature space. Furthermore, a multi-head self-attention mechanism is used to strengthen the anticancer peptide sequences. Finally, three categories of feature information are classified by cascading. CL-ACP was validated using two types of datasets, anticancer peptide datasets and antimicrobial peptide datasets, on which it achieved good results compared to previous methods. CL-ACP achieved the highest AUC values of 0.935 and 0.972 on the anticancer peptide and antimicrobial peptide datasets, respectively. CONCLUSIONS CL-ACP can effectively recognize antimicrobial peptides, especially anticancer peptides, and the parallel combined neural network structure of CL-ACP does not require complex feature design and high time cost. It is suitable for application as a useful tool in antimicrobial peptide design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqing Wang
- College of Information and Computer, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- College of Information and Computer, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China.
| | - Hong Zhao
- College of Information and Computer, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China
| | - Haolin Li
- College of Information and Computer, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China
| | - Juan Wang
- College of Information and Computer, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China
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14
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Róg T, Girych M, Bunker A. Mechanistic Understanding from Molecular Dynamics in Pharmaceutical Research 2: Lipid Membrane in Drug Design. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1062. [PMID: 34681286 PMCID: PMC8537670 DOI: 10.3390/ph14101062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We review the use of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation as a drug design tool in the context of the role that the lipid membrane can play in drug action, i.e., the interaction between candidate drug molecules and lipid membranes. In the standard "lock and key" paradigm, only the interaction between the drug and a specific active site of a specific protein is considered; the environment in which the drug acts is, from a biophysical perspective, far more complex than this. The possible mechanisms though which a drug can be designed to tinker with physiological processes are significantly broader than merely fitting to a single active site of a single protein. In this paper, we focus on the role of the lipid membrane, arguably the most important element outside the proteins themselves, as a case study. We discuss work that has been carried out, using MD simulation, concerning the transfection of drugs through membranes that act as biological barriers in the path of the drugs, the behavior of drug molecules within membranes, how their collective behavior can affect the structure and properties of the membrane and, finally, the role lipid membranes, to which the vast majority of drug target proteins are associated, can play in mediating the interaction between drug and target protein. This review paper is the second in a two-part series covering MD simulation as a tool in pharmaceutical research; both are designed as pedagogical review papers aimed at both pharmaceutical scientists interested in exploring how the tool of MD simulation can be applied to their research and computational scientists interested in exploring the possibility of a pharmaceutical context for their research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Róg
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Mykhailo Girych
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Alex Bunker
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
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15
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Vishweshwaraiah YL, Acharya A, Hegde V, Prakash B. Rational design of hyperstable antibacterial peptides for food preservation. NPJ Sci Food 2021; 5:26. [PMID: 34471114 PMCID: PMC8410836 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-021-00109-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe the design of peptides with properties like thermostability, pH stability, and antibacterial activity against a few bacterial food pathogens. Insights obtained from classical structure-function analysis of natural peptides and their mutants through antimicrobial and enzymatic assays are used to rationally develop a set of peptides. pH and thermostability assays were performed to demonstrate robust antimicrobial activity post-treatment with high temperatures and at wide pH ranges. We have also investigated the mode of action of these hyperstable peptides using membrane permeability assays, electron microscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations. Notably, through mutational studies, we show that these peptides elicit their antibacterial action via both membrane destabilization and inhibition of intracellular trypsin-the two functions attributable to separate peptide segments. Finally, toxicity studies and food preservation assays demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the designed peptides for food preservation. Overall, the study provides a general 'blueprint' for the development of stable antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Insights obtained from this work may also be combined with combinatorial methods in high-throughput studies for future development of antimicrobials for various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashavantha L. Vishweshwaraiah
- grid.417629.f0000 0004 0501 5711Department of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India
| | - Abhishek Acharya
- grid.417629.f0000 0004 0501 5711Department of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India
| | - Vinayak Hegde
- grid.417629.f0000 0004 0501 5711Department of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India ,grid.469887.c0000 0004 7744 2771Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh India
| | - Balaji Prakash
- grid.417629.f0000 0004 0501 5711Department of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India ,grid.448607.90000 0004 1781 3606Division of Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat India
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16
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Influence of lipid bilayer composition on the activity of antimicrobial quaternary ammonium ionenes, the interplay of intrinsic lipid curvature and polymer hydrophobicity, the role of cardiolipin. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 207:112016. [PMID: 34364250 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Incorporation of hydrophobic component into amphiphilic polycations structure is frequently accompanied by an increase of antimicrobial activity. There is, however, a group of relatively hydrophilic polycations containing quaternary ammonium moieties along mainchain, ionenes, which also display strong antimicrobial and limited hemolytic properties. In this work, an influence of a hydrophobic side group length on antimicrobial mechanism of action is investigated in a series of novel amphiphilic ionenes. High antimicrobial activity was found by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal, and fungicidal concentration (MBC and MFC) in both growth media and a buffer. Biocompatibility was estimated by hemolytic and mammalian cells viability assays. Mechanistic studies were performed using large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) with different lipid composition, as simplified models of cell membranes. The investigated ionenes are potent and selective antimicrobial molecules displaying a decrease of antimicrobial activity correlated with increase of hydrophobicity. Studies using LUVs revealed that the cardiolipin is an essential component responsible for the lipid bilayer permeabilization by investigated ionens. In contrast to relatively hydrophilic ionenes, more hydrophobic polymers showed an ability to stabilize membranes composed of lipids with negative spontaneous curvature in a certain range of polymer to lipid ratio. The results substantially contribute to the understanding of antimicrobial activity of the investigated class of polymers.
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17
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Epimers l- and d-Phenylseptin: How the relative stereochemistry affects the peptide-membrane interactions. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183708. [PMID: 34310911 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, several epimers of peptides containing d-amino acids have been identified in antimicrobial sequences, a feature which has been associated with post-translational modification. Generally, d-isomers present similar or inferior antimicrobial activity, only surpassing their epimers in resistance to peptidases. The naturally occurring l-Phenylseptin (l-Phes) and d-Phenylseptin (d-Phes) peptides (FFFDTLKNLAGKVIGALT-nh2) were reported with d-epimer showing higher activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Xanthomonas axonopodis in comparison with the l-epimer. In this study, we combine structural (CD, solution NMR), orientational (solid-state NMR) and biophysical (ITC, DSC and DLS) studies to understand the role of the d-phenylalanine in the increase of the antimicrobial activity. Although both peptides are structurally similar in the helical region ranging from D4 to the C-terminus, significant structural differences were observed near the peptides' N-termini (which encompasses the FFF motif). Specific aromatic interactions involving the phenylalanine side chains of d-Phes is responsible to maintaining the F1-F3 residues on the hydrophobic face of the peptide, increasing its amphipathicity when compared to the l-epimer. The higher capability of d-Phes to exert an efficient anchoring in the hydrophobic core of the phospholipid bilayer indicates a pivotal role of the N-terminus in enhancing the interaction between the d-peptide and the membrane interface in relation to its epimer.
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18
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Dematei A, Nunes JB, Moreira DC, Jesus JA, Laurenti MD, Mengarda ACA, Vieira MS, do Amaral CP, Domingues MM, de Moraes J, Passero LFD, Brand G, Bessa LJ, Wimmer R, Kuckelhaus SAS, Tomás AM, Santos NC, Plácido A, Eaton P, Leite JRSA. Mechanistic Insights into the Leishmanicidal and Bactericidal Activities of Batroxicidin, a Cathelicidin-Related Peptide from a South American Viper ( Bothrops atrox). JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2021; 84:1787-1798. [PMID: 34077221 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Snake venoms are important sources of bioactive molecules, including those with antiparasitic activity. Cathelicidins form a class of such molecules, which are produced by a variety of organisms. Batroxicidin (BatxC) is a cathelicidin found in the venom of the common lancehead (Bothrops atrox). In the present work, BatxC and two synthetic analogues, BatxC(C-2.15Phe) and BatxC(C-2.14Phe)des-Phe1, were assessed for their microbicidal activity. All three peptides showed a broad-spectrum activity on Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, as well as promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data indicated that the three peptides changed their structure upon interaction with membranes. Biomimetic membrane model studies demonstrated that the peptides exert a permeabilization effect in prokaryotic membranes, leading to cell morphology distortion, which was confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The molecules considered in this work exhibited bactericidal and leishmanicidal activity at low concentrations, with the AFM data suggesting membrane pore formation as their mechanism of action. These peptides stand as valuable prototype drugs to be further investigated and eventually used to treat bacterial and protozoal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Dematei
- Center for Tropical Medicine, NMT, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
- Research Center in Morphology and Applied Immunology, NuPMIA, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - João B Nunes
- Research Center in Morphology and Applied Immunology, NuPMIA, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
- Laboratory for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biomolecules, LSAB, Institute of Chemistry, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Daniel C Moreira
- Research Center in Morphology and Applied Immunology, NuPMIA, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Jéssica A Jesus
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Márcia D Laurenti
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Pathology of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-060, Brazil
| | - Ana C A Mengarda
- Research Center on Neglected Diseases, NPDN, University of Guarulhos, Guarulhos 07023-070, Brazil
| | - Maria Silva Vieira
- I3S, Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto 4099-002, Portugal
- IBMC, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Porto, Porto 4099-002, Portugal
| | - Constança Pais do Amaral
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marco M Domingues
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Josué de Moraes
- Research Center on Neglected Diseases, NPDN, University of Guarulhos, Guarulhos 07023-070, Brazil
| | - Luiz F D Passero
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Pathology of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-060, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Brand
- Laboratory for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biomolecules, LSAB, Institute of Chemistry, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Lucinda J Bessa
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto 4099-002, Portugal
| | - Reinhard Wimmer
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
| | - Selma A S Kuckelhaus
- Research Center in Morphology and Applied Immunology, NuPMIA, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Ana M Tomás
- I3S, Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto 4099-002, Portugal
- IBMC, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Porto, Porto 4099-002, Portugal
- ICBAS, Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Porto, Porto 4099-002, Portugal
| | - Nuno C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Plácido
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto 4099-002, Portugal
| | - Peter Eaton
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto 4099-002, Portugal
- The Bridge, Joseph Banks Laboratories, School of Chemistry, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, U.K
| | - José Roberto S A Leite
- Center for Tropical Medicine, NMT, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
- Research Center in Morphology and Applied Immunology, NuPMIA, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
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19
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Talandashti R, Mehrnejad F, Rostamipour K, Doustdar F, Lavasanifar A. Molecular Insights into Pore Formation Mechanism, Membrane Perturbation, and Water Permeation by the Antimicrobial Peptide Pleurocidin: A Combined All-Atom and Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:7163-7176. [PMID: 34171196 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c01954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The antimicrobial peptide (AMP) pleurocidin has a broad antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by perturbation and permeabilizing their membranes; however, understanding the mechanism of action of pleurocidin, a promising AMP for replacing current antibiotic agents, has tremendous importance for future applications. Hence, we applied all-atom (AA) and coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to provide molecular-level insights into the pore-forming process. The early stages of pore formation were examined by 500 ns AA simulations. The results demonstrated that pleurocidin has the ability to create a pore with two peptides through which water molecules can flow. However, the results of the 25 μs CG simulations indicate that the final pore will be created by accumulation of more than two peptides. The results show that after 2.5 μs of simulations, peptides will aggregate and create a channel-like pore across the membrane. Pleurocidin can construct a more efficient and stable pore in the anionic membranes than in the zwitterionic membranes. Moreover, the structure amphipathicity, polarity, and basic residues play crucial roles in the pore formation and flow of water molecules across the lipid bilayers. In general, the findings revealed that based on the lipid compositions of the membranes, pleurocidin could act by forming either toroidal or disordered toroidal pores with different peptide arrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Talandashti
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P. O. Box: 1985717443 Tehran, Iran.,Department of Life Sciences Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 14395-1561, Iran
| | - Faramarz Mehrnejad
- Department of Life Sciences Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 14395-1561, Iran
| | - Kiana Rostamipour
- Department of Life Sciences Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 14395-1561, Iran
| | - Farahnoosh Doustdar
- Department of Life Sciences Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 14395-1561, Iran.,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Lavasanifar
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
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20
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Marzuoli I, Cruz CHB, Lorenz CD, Fraternali F. Nanocapsule designs for antimicrobial resistance. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:10342-10355. [PMID: 34137751 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr08146a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The pressing need of new antimicrobial products is growing stronger, particularly because of widespread antimicrobial resistance, endangering our ability to treat common infections. The recent coronavirus pandemic has dramatically highlighted the necessity of effective antibacterial and antiviral protection. This work explores at the molecular level the mechanism of action of antibacterial nanocapsules assembled in virus-like particles, their stability and their interaction with mammal and antimicrobial model membranes. We use Molecular Dynamics with force-fields of different granularity and protein design strategies to study the stability, self-assembly and membrane poration properties of these nanocapsules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Marzuoli
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Carlos H B Cruz
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
| | | | - Franca Fraternali
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
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21
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Kasturi MMM, Kamaruding NA, Ismail N. Characterization of Purified Tachystatin-A2 Isolated from Amoebocytes of Asian Horseshoe Crab, Tachypleus gigas as Potential Antibacterial Peptide. APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683821030054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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22
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Maaroufi H, Potvin M, Cusson M, Levesque RC. Novel antimicrobial anionic cecropins from the spruce budworm feature a poly-L-aspartic acid C-terminus. Proteins 2021; 89:1205-1215. [PMID: 33973678 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cecropins form a family of amphipathic α-helical cationic peptides with broad-spectrum antibacterial properties and potent anticancer activity. The emergence of bacteria and cancer cells showing resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) has fostered a search for new, more selective and more effective alternatives to CAMPs. With this goal in mind, we looked for cecropin homologs in the genome and transcriptome of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana. Not only did we find paralogs of the conventional cationic cecropins (Cfcec+ ), our screening also led to the identification of previously uncharacterized anionic cecropins (Cfcec- ), featuring a poly-l-aspartic acid C-terminus. Comparative peptide analysis indicated that the C-terminal helix of Cfcec- is amphipathic, unlike that of Cfcec+ , which is hydrophobic. Interestingly, molecular dynamics simulations pointed to the lower conformational flexibility of Cfcec- peptides, relative to that of Cfcec+ . Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the evolution of distinct Cfcec+ and Cfcec- peptides may have resulted from an ancient duplication event within the Lepidoptera. Finally, we found that both anionic and cationic cecropins contain a BH3-like motif (G-[KQR]-[HKQNR]-[IV]-[KQR]) that could interact with Bcl-2, a protein involved in apoptosis; this observation is congruent with previous reports indicating that cecropins induce apoptosis. Altogether, our observations suggest that cecropins may provide templates for the development of new anticancer drugs. We also estimated the antibacterial activity of Cfcec-2 and a ∆Cfce-2 peptide as AMPs by testing directly their ability in inhibiting bacterial growth in a disk diffusion assay and their potential for development of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halim Maaroufi
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Marianne Potvin
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Michel Cusson
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Roger C Levesque
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS) and Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
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23
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Chen J, Huang X, Geng R, Zhu D, Wang W, Liu H. Ribonuclease1 contributes to the antibacterial response and immune defense in blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 172:309-320. [PMID: 33454323 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.01.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ribonuclease 1 (RNase1) is a vertebrate-specific enzyme that mainly performs digestive activity in herbivorous mammals. Here we used bacterial viability assays to explore its antimicrobial activity in blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). The results showed that Ma-RNase1 rapidly killed Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria at micromolar concentrations. Ma-RNase1 increased the permeability of bacterial outer and inner membranes, thus reducing the integrity of bacterial cell wall and membrane. Moreover, Ma-RNase1 effectively counteracted the tissue damage and apoptosis caused by Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Quantitative real-time PCR and immunoblot analysis indicated that RNase1 mRNA and protein were up-regulated in the kidney and gut during infection. Furthermore, A. hydrophila infection significantly induced Tnf-α and Il-1β mRNA expression in liver, but not in the RNase1 pre-treatment group. In addition, a significant increase in the expression of immune-related genes (Nf-κb and Tlr4) was found in liver, kidney and gut of A. hydrophila-infected fish, while a decrease in Myd88 and Tlr4 levels was found in liver, spleen, kidney and gut in the group pre-treated with RNase1. Collectively, these data suggest that Ma-RNase1 has antimicrobial function both in vitro and in vivo, and contributes to the protective effect and immune defense of blunt snout bream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- College of Fisheries, Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xin Huang
- College of Fisheries, Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ruijing Geng
- College of Fisheries, Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dongmei Zhu
- College of Fisheries, Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Weimin Wang
- College of Fisheries, Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Han Liu
- College of Fisheries, Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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24
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Chakraborty A, Kobzev E, Chan J, de Zoysa GH, Sarojini V, Piggot TJ, Allison JR. Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Interaction of Two Linear Battacin Analogs with Model Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacterial Cell Membranes. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:388-400. [PMID: 33458490 PMCID: PMC7807746 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c04752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potential solution to the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance, but successful design of active but nontoxic AMPs requires understanding their mechanism of action. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can provide atomic-level information regarding how AMPs interact with the cell membrane. Here, we have used MD simulations to study two linear analogs of battacin, a naturally occurring cyclic, lipidated, nonribosomal AMP. Like battacin, these analogs are active against Gram-negative multidrug resistant and Gram-positive bacteria, but they are less toxic than battacin. Our simulations show that this activity depends upon a combination of positively charged and hydrophobic moieties. Favorable interactions with negatively charged membrane lipid head groups drive association with the membrane and insertion of hydrophobic residues, and the N-terminal lipid anchors the peptides to the membrane surface. Both effects are required for stable membrane binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparajita Chakraborty
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- School
of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Centre
for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, Massey
University Auckland, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
| | - Elisey Kobzev
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Centre
for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, Massey
University Auckland, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
- School
of Computational and Natural Sciences, Massey
University Auckland, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan Chan
- School
of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QU, United
Kingdom
| | | | - Vijayalekshmi Sarojini
- School of
Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- MacDiarmid
Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Thomas J. Piggot
- School
of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Chemical
Biological and Radiological Sciences, Defence
Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, United Kingdom
| | - Jane R Allison
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- School
of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Centre
for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, Massey
University Auckland, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
- Biomolecular
Interaction Centre, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- Digital
Life Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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25
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Bechinger B, Juhl DW, Glattard E, Aisenbrey C. Revealing the Mechanisms of Synergistic Action of Two Magainin Antimicrobial Peptides. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2020; 2:615494. [PMID: 35047895 PMCID: PMC8757784 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2020.615494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of peptide-lipid and peptide-peptide interactions as well as their topology and dynamics using biophysical and structural approaches have changed our view how antimicrobial peptides work and function. It has become obvious that both the peptides and the lipids arrange in soft supramolecular arrangements which are highly dynamic and able to change and mutually adapt their conformation, membrane penetration, and detailed morphology. This can occur on a local and a global level. This review focuses on cationic amphipathic peptides of the magainin family which were studied extensively by biophysical approaches. They are found intercalated at the membrane interface where they cause membrane thinning and ultimately lysis. Interestingly, mixtures of two of those peptides namely magainin 2 and PGLa which occur naturally as a cocktail in the frog skin exhibit synergistic enhancement of antimicrobial activities when investigated together in antimicrobial assays but also in biophysical experiments with model membranes. Detailed dose-response curves, presented here for the first time, show a cooperative behavior for the individual peptides which is much increased when PGLa and magainin are added as equimolar mixture. This has important consequences for their bacterial killing activities and resistance development. In membranes that carry unsaturations both peptides align parallel to the membrane surface where they have been shown to arrange into mesophases involving the peptides and the lipids. This supramolecular structuration comes along with much-increased membrane affinities for the peptide mixture. Because this synergism is most pronounced in membranes representing the bacterial lipid composition it can potentially be used to increase the therapeutic window of pharmaceutical formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burkhard Bechinger
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Dennis Wilkens Juhl
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elise Glattard
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Christopher Aisenbrey
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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26
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Manzo G, Hind CK, Ferguson PM, Amison RT, Hodgson-Casson AC, Ciazynska KA, Weller BJ, Clarke M, Lam C, Man RCH, Shaughnessy BGO, Clifford M, Bui TT, Drake AF, Atkinson RA, Lam JKW, Pitchford SC, Page CP, Phoenix DA, Lorenz CD, Sutton JM, Mason AJ. A pleurocidin analogue with greater conformational flexibility, enhanced antimicrobial potency and in vivo therapeutic efficacy. Commun Biol 2020; 3:697. [PMID: 33247193 PMCID: PMC7699649 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01420-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potential alternative to classical antibiotics that are yet to achieve a therapeutic breakthrough for treatment of systemic infections. The antibacterial potency of pleurocidin, an AMP from Winter Flounder, is linked to its ability to cross bacterial plasma membranes and seek intracellular targets while also causing membrane damage. Here we describe modification strategies that generate pleurocidin analogues with substantially improved, broad spectrum, antibacterial properties, which are effective in murine models of bacterial lung infection. Increasing peptide-lipid intermolecular hydrogen bonding capabilities enhances conformational flexibility, associated with membrane translocation, but also membrane damage and potency, most notably against Gram-positive bacteria. This negates their ability to metabolically adapt to the AMP threat. An analogue comprising D-amino acids was well tolerated at an intravenous dose of 15 mg/kg and similarly effective as vancomycin in reducing EMRSA-15 lung CFU. This highlights the therapeutic potential of systemically delivered, bactericidal AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Charlotte K Hind
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Philip M Ferguson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Richard T Amison
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alice C Hodgson-Casson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Katarzyna A Ciazynska
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Bethany J Weller
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Maria Clarke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Carolyn Lam
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Rico C H Man
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Blaze G O' Shaughnessy
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Melanie Clifford
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Tam T Bui
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Alex F Drake
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - R Andrew Atkinson
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Jenny K W Lam
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Simon C Pitchford
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Clive P Page
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - David A Phoenix
- School of Applied Science, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK
| | | | - J Mark Sutton
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK.
| | - A James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
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27
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Hyun S, Choi Y, Jo D, Choo S, Park TW, Park SJ, Kim S, Lee S, Park S, Jin SM, Cheon DH, Yoo W, Arya R, Chong YP, Kim KK, Kim YS, Lee Y, Yu J. Proline Hinged Amphipathic α-Helical Peptide Sensitizes Gram-Negative Bacteria to Various Gram-Positive Antibiotics. J Med Chem 2020; 63:14937-14950. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Soonsil Hyun
- Department of Chemistry & Education, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Yoonhwa Choi
- Department of Chemistry & Education, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Doyeon Jo
- Department of Chemistry & Education, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Seolah Choo
- Department of Chemistry & Education, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Tae Woo Park
- Department of Chemistry & Education, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Su-Jin Park
- Department of Infectious Disease, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Seoyeon Kim
- Department of Chemistry & Education, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Seonju Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sohyun Park
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sun Mi Jin
- Department of Chemistry & Education, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Dae Hee Cheon
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Wanki Yoo
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Rekha Arya
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Yong Pil Chong
- Department of Infectious Disease, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Kyeong Kyu Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Yang Soo Kim
- Department of Infectious Disease, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
| | - Yan Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jaehoon Yu
- Department of Chemistry & Education, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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28
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Waghu FH, Gawde U, Gomatam A, Coutinho E, Idicula‐Thomas S. A QSAR modeling approach for predicting myeloid antimicrobial peptides with high sequence similarity. Chem Biol Drug Des 2020; 96:1408-1417. [DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Faiza Hanif Waghu
- Biomedical Informatics Centre Indian Council of Medical Research‐National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health MumbaiIndia
| | - Ulka Gawde
- Biomedical Informatics Centre Indian Council of Medical Research‐National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health MumbaiIndia
| | - Anish Gomatam
- Molecular Simulations Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Bombay College of Pharmacy MumbaiIndia
| | - Evans Coutinho
- Molecular Simulations Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Bombay College of Pharmacy MumbaiIndia
| | - Susan Idicula‐Thomas
- Biomedical Informatics Centre Indian Council of Medical Research‐National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health MumbaiIndia
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29
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Brožek R, Kabelka I, Vácha R. Effect of Helical Kink on Peptide Translocation across Phospholipid Membranes. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:5940-5947. [PMID: 32603116 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c03291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Biological membranes present a major obstacle for the delivery of therapeutic agents into cells. Some peptides have been shown to translocate across the membrane spontaneously, and they could be thus used as drug-carriers. However, the advantageous peptide properties for the translocation remain unclear. Of particular interest is the effect of a proline-induced kink in α-helical peptides, because the kink was previously reported to both increase and decrease the antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity of peptides could be related to their translocation across the membrane as is the case of the buforin 2 peptide investigated here. Using computer simulations with two independent models, we consistently showed that the presence of the kink has (1) no effect on the translocation barrier, (2) reduces the peptide affinity to the membrane, and (3) disfavors the transmembrane state. Moreover, we were able to determine that these effects are mainly caused by the peptide increased polarity, not the increased flexibility of the kink. The provided molecular understanding can be utilized for the design of cell-penetrating and drug-carrying peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radim Brožek
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Kabelka
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Vácha
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
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30
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Optimizing Exogenous Surfactant as a Pulmonary Delivery Vehicle for Chicken Cathelicidin-2. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9392. [PMID: 32523049 PMCID: PMC7287084 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66448-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The rising incidence of antibiotic-resistant lung infections has instigated a much-needed search for new therapeutic strategies. One proposed strategy is the use of exogenous surfactants to deliver antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), like CATH-2, to infected regions of the lung. CATH-2 can kill bacteria through a diverse range of antibacterial pathways and exogenous surfactant can improve pulmonary drug distribution. Unfortunately, mixing AMPs with commercially available exogenous surfactants has been shown to negatively impact their antimicrobial function. It was hypothesized that the phosphatidylglycerol component of surfactant was inhibiting AMP function and that an exogenous surfactant, with a reduced phosphatidylglycerol composition would increase peptide mediated killing at a distal site. To better understand how surfactant lipids interacted with CATH-2 and affected its function, isothermal titration calorimetry and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as bacterial killing curves against Pseudomonas aeruginosa were utilized. Additionally, the wet bridge transfer system was used to evaluate surfactant spreading and peptide transport. Phosphatidylglycerol was the only surfactant lipid to significantly inhibit CATH-2 function, showing a stronger electrostatic interaction with the peptide than other lipids. Although diluting the phosphatidylglycerol content in an existing surfactant, through the addition of other lipids, significantly improved peptide function and distal killing, it also reduced surfactant spreading. A synthetic phosphatidylglycerol-free surfactant however, was shown to further improve CATH-2 delivery and function at a remote site. Based on these in vitro experiments synthetic phosphatidylglycerol-free surfactants seem optimal for delivering AMPs to the lung.
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31
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Kopiasz RJ, Tomaszewski W, Kuźmińska A, Chreptowicz K, Mierzejewska J, Ciach T, Jańczewski D. Hydrophilic Quaternary Ammonium Ionenes—Is There an Influence of Backbone Flexibility and Topology on Antibacterial Properties? Macromol Biosci 2020; 20:e2000063. [DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202000063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Jerzy Kopiasz
- Faculty of ChemistryWarsaw University of Technology Noakowskiego 3 Warsaw 00‐664 Poland
| | - Waldemar Tomaszewski
- Faculty of ChemistryWarsaw University of Technology Noakowskiego 3 Warsaw 00‐664 Poland
| | - Aleksandra Kuźmińska
- Faculty of Chemical and Process EngineeringWarsaw University of Technology Waryńskiego 1 Warsaw 00‐645 Poland
| | - Karolina Chreptowicz
- Faculty of ChemistryWarsaw University of Technology Noakowskiego 3 Warsaw 00‐664 Poland
| | - Jolanta Mierzejewska
- Faculty of ChemistryWarsaw University of Technology Noakowskiego 3 Warsaw 00‐664 Poland
| | - Tomasz Ciach
- Faculty of Chemical and Process EngineeringWarsaw University of Technology Waryńskiego 1 Warsaw 00‐645 Poland
| | - Dominik Jańczewski
- Faculty of ChemistryWarsaw University of Technology Noakowskiego 3 Warsaw 00‐664 Poland
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32
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Tuerkova A, Kabelka I, Králová T, Sukeník L, Pokorná Š, Hof M, Vácha R. Effect of helical kink in antimicrobial peptides on membrane pore formation. eLife 2020; 9:47946. [PMID: 32167466 PMCID: PMC7069690 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Every cell is protected by a semipermeable membrane. Peptides with the right properties, for example Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), can disrupt this protective barrier by formation of leaky pores. Unfortunately, matching peptide properties with their ability to selectively form pores in bacterial membranes remains elusive. In particular, the proline/glycine kink in helical peptides was reported to both increase and decrease antimicrobial activity. We used computer simulations and fluorescence experiments to show that a kink in helices affects the formation of membrane pores by stabilizing toroidal pores but disrupting barrel-stave pores. The position of the proline/glycine kink in the sequence further controls the specific structure of toroidal pore. Moreover, we demonstrate that two helical peptides can form a kink-like connection with similar behavior as one long helical peptide with a kink. The provided molecular-level insight can be utilized for design and modification of pore-forming antibacterial peptides or toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alzbeta Tuerkova
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Kabelka
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Králová
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Sukeník
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Pokorná
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Hof
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Vácha
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská, Czech Republic
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Molecular Dynamics Study of the Human Beta-defensins 2 and 3 Chimeric Peptides with the Cell Membrane Model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Int J Pept Res Ther 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-019-10000-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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34
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de Barros E, Gonçalves RM, Cardoso MH, Santos NC, Franco OL, Cândido ES. Snake Venom Cathelicidins as Natural Antimicrobial Peptides. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1415. [PMID: 31849667 PMCID: PMC6895205 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioactive small molecules isolated from animals, plants, fungi and bacteria, including natural antimicrobial peptides, have shown great therapeutic potential worldwide. Among these peptides, snake venom cathelicidins are being widely exploited, because the variation in the composition of the venom reflects a range of biological activities that may be of biotechnological interest. Cathelicidins are short, cationic, and amphipathic molecules. They play an important role in host defense against microbial infections. We are currently facing a strong limitation on pharmacological interventions for infection control, which has become increasingly complex due to the lack of effective therapeutic options. In this review, we will focus on natural snake venom cathelicidins as promising candidates for the development of new antibacterial agents to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We will highlight their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities, mechanism of action, and modulation of the innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizângela de Barros
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Regina M. Gonçalves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Marlon H. Cardoso
- S-Inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Nuno C. Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Octávio L. Franco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Elizabete S. Cândido
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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Oshiro KGN, Cândido ES, Chan LY, Torres MDT, Monges BED, Rodrigues SG, Porto WF, Ribeiro SM, Henriques ST, Lu TK, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Craik DJ, Franco OL, Cardoso MH. Computer-Aided Design of Mastoparan-like Peptides Enables the Generation of Nontoxic Variants with Extended Antibacterial Properties. J Med Chem 2019; 62:8140-8151. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen G. N. Oshiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910900, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117900, Brazil
| | - Elizabete S. Cândido
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117900, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 70790160, Brazil
| | - Lai Y. Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Marcelo D. T. Torres
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center; The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics; Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Biological Engineering, and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210170, Brazil
| | - Bruna E. D. Monges
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117900, Brazil
| | - Silvia G. Rodrigues
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117900, Brazil
| | - William F. Porto
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117900, Brazil
- Porto Reports, Brasília, DF 70790160, Brazil
| | - Suzana M. Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS 79825070, Brazil
| | - Sónia T. Henriques
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Timothy K. Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center; The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics; Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Biological Engineering, and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center; The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics; Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Biological Engineering, and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Octávio L. Franco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910900, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117900, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 70790160, Brazil
| | - Marlon H. Cardoso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910900, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117900, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 70790160, Brazil
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Temporin L and aurein 2.5 have identical conformations but subtly distinct membrane and antibacterial activities. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10934. [PMID: 31358802 PMCID: PMC6662694 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47327-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Frogs such as Rana temporaria and Litoria aurea secrete numerous closely related antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as an effective chemical dermal defence. Damage or penetration of the bacterial plasma membrane is considered essential for AMP activity and such properties are commonly ascribed to their ability to form secondary amphipathic, α-helix conformations in membrane mimicking milieu. Nevertheless, despite the high similarity in physical properties and preference for adopting such conformations, the spectrum of activity and potency of AMPs often varies considerably. Hence distinguishing apparently similar AMPs according to their behaviour in, and effects on, model membranes will inform understanding of primary-sequence-specific antimicrobial mechanisms. Here we use a combination of molecular dynamics simulations, circular dichroism and patch-clamp to investigate the basis for differing anti-bacterial activities in representative AMPs from each species; temporin L and aurein 2.5. Despite adopting near identical, α-helix conformations in the steady-state in a variety of membrane models, these two AMPs can be distinguished both in vitro and in silico based on their dynamic interactions with model membranes, notably their differing conformational flexibility at the N-terminus, ability to form higher order aggregates and the characteristics of induced ion conductance. Taken together, these differences provide an explanation of the greater potency and broader antibacterial spectrum of activity of temporin L over aurein 2.5. Consequently, while the secondary amphipathic, α-helix conformation is a key determinant of the ability of a cationic AMP to penetrate and disrupt the bacterial plasma membrane, the exact mechanism, potency and spectrum of activity is determined by precise structural and dynamic contributions from specific residues in each AMP sequence.
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Romoli O, Mukherjee S, Mohid SA, Dutta A, Montali A, Franzolin E, Brady D, Zito F, Bergantino E, Rampazzo C, Tettamanti G, Bhunia A, Sandrelli F. Enhanced Silkworm Cecropin B Antimicrobial Activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Single Amino Acid Variation. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:1200-1213. [PMID: 31045339 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen causing severe infections in hospitalized and immunosuppressed patients, particularly individuals affected by cystic fibrosis. Several clinically isolated P. aeruginosa strains were found to be resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes indicating the importance of identifying new antimicrobials active against this pathogen. Here, we characterized the antimicrobial activity and the action mechanisms against P. aeruginosa of two natural isoforms of the antimicrobial peptide cecropin B, both isolated from the silkworm Bombyx mori. These cecropin B isoforms differ in a single amino acid substitution within the active portion of the peptide, so that the glutamic acid of the E53 CecB variant is replaced by a glutamine in the Q53 CecB isoform. Both peptides showed a high antimicrobial and membranolytic activity against P. aeruginosa, with Q53 CecB displaying greater activity compared with the E53 CecB isoform. Biophysical analyses, live-cell NMR, and molecular-dynamic-simulation studies indicated that both peptides might act as membrane-interacting elements, which can disrupt outer-membrane organization, facilitating their translocation toward the inner membrane of the bacterial cell. Our data also suggest that the amino acid variation of the Q53 CecB isoform represents a critical factor in stabilizing the hydrophobic segment that interacts with the bacterial membrane, determining the highest antimicrobial activity of the whole peptide. Its high stability to pH and temperature variations, tolerance to high salt concentrations, and low toxicity against human cells make Q53 CecB a promising candidate in the development of CecB-derived compounds against P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ottavia Romoli
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Shruti Mukherjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), 700 054 Kolkata, India
| | - Sk Abdul Mohid
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), 700 054 Kolkata, India
| | - Arkajyoti Dutta
- Department of Chemistry, Bose Institute, 93/1 A P C Road, 700 009 Kolkata, India
| | - Aurora Montali
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via Jean Henry Dunant, 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Elisa Franzolin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Daniel Brady
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Zito
- Laboratoire de Biologie Physico-Chimique des Protéines Membranaires, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, CNRS, UMR7099, University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Elisabetta Bergantino
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Rampazzo
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Gianluca Tettamanti
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via Jean Henry Dunant, 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), 700 054 Kolkata, India
| | - Federica Sandrelli
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Grafskaia EN, Nadezhdin KD, Talyzina IA, Polina NF, Podgorny OV, Pavlova ER, Bashkirov PV, Kharlampieva DD, Bobrovsky PA, Latsis IA, Manuvera VA, Babenko VV, Trukhan VM, Arseniev AS, Klinov DV, Lazarev VN. Medicinal leech antimicrobial peptides lacking toxicity represent a promising alternative strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 180:143-153. [PMID: 31302447 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.06.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic resistance has necessitated the development of alternative strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), components of the innate immune response in various organisms, are promising next-generation drugs against bacterial infections. The ability of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis to store blood for months with little change has attracted interest regarding the identification of novel AMPs in this organism. In this study, we employed computational algorithms to the medicinal leech genome assembly to identify amino acid sequences encoding potential AMPs. Then, we synthesized twelve candidate AMPs identified by the algorithms, determined their secondary structures, measured minimal inhibitory concentrations against three bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Chlamydia thrachomatis), and assayed cytotoxic and haemolytic activities. Eight of twelve candidate AMPs possessed antimicrobial activity, and only two of them, 3967 (FRIMRILRVLKL) and 536-1 (RWRLVCFLCRRKKV), exhibited inhibition of growth of all tested bacterial species at a minimal inhibitory concentration of 10 μmol. Thus, we evidence the utility of the developed computational algorithms for the identification of AMPs with low toxicity and haemolytic activity in the medicinal leech genome assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- E N Grafskaia
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia.
| | - K D Nadezhdin
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia; M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - I A Talyzina
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Federal State Budget Educational Institution of Higher Education, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University (Lomonosov MSU), Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - N F Polina
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - O V Podgorny
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - E R Pavlova
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - P V Bashkirov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - D D Kharlampieva
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - P A Bobrovsky
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - I A Latsis
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - V A Manuvera
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - V V Babenko
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - V M Trukhan
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, 119146, Russia
| | - A S Arseniev
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia; M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - D V Klinov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - V N Lazarev
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
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Talandashti R, Mahdiuni H, Jafari M, Mehrnejad F. Molecular Basis for Membrane Selectivity of Antimicrobial Peptide Pleurocidin in the Presence of Different Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Model Membranes. J Chem Inf Model 2019; 59:3262-3276. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Reza Talandashti
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14395-1561, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Mahdiuni
- Bioinformatics Lab., Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Razi University, P.O. Box 67149-67346, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Majid Jafari
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14395-1561, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faramarz Mehrnejad
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14395-1561, Tehran, Iran
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Varnava KG, Mohid SA, Calligari P, Stella L, Reynison J, Bhunia A, Sarojini V. Design, Synthesis, Antibacterial Potential, and Structural Characterization of N-Acylated Derivatives of the Human Autophagy 16 Polypeptide. Bioconjug Chem 2019; 30:1998-2010. [PMID: 31145591 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A synthetic antimicrobial peptide library based on the human autophagy 16 polypeptide has been developed. Designed acetylated peptides bearing lipids of different chain lengths resulted in peptides with enhanced potency compared to the parent Atg16. A 21-residue fragment of Atg16 conjugated to 4-methylhexanoic acid (K30) emerged as the most potent antibacterial, with negligible hemolysis. Several studies, including microscopy, dye leakage, and ITC, were conducted to gain insight into the antibacterial mechanism of action of the peptide. Visual inspection using both SEM and TEM revealed the membranolytic effect of the peptide on bacterial cells. The selectivity of the peptide against bacterial cell membranes was also proven using dye leakage assays. ITC analysis revealed the exothermic nature of the binding interaction of the peptide to D8PG micelles. The three-dimensional solution NMR structure of K30 in complex with dioctanoylphosphatidylglycerol (D8PG) micelles revealed that the peptide adopts a helix-loop-helix structure in the presence of anionic membrane lipids mimicking bacterial membranes. Intermolecular NOEs between the peptide and lipid deciphered the location of the peptide in the bound state, which was subsequently supported by the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) NMR experiment. Collectively, these results describe the structure-function relationship of the peptide in the bacterial membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriakos Gabriel Varnava
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019 , Auckland , New Zealand
| | - Sk Abdul Mohid
- Department of Biophysics , Bose Institute , P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M) , Kolkata 700054 , India
| | - Paolo Calligari
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , 00133 Rome , Italy
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , 00133 Rome , Italy
| | - Jóhannes Reynison
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019 , Auckland , New Zealand.,School of Pharmacy, Hornbeam Building , Keele University , Staffordshire ST5 5BG , United Kingdom
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics , Bose Institute , P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M) , Kolkata 700054 , India
| | - Vijayalekshmi Sarojini
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019 , Auckland , New Zealand.,The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology , Wellington 6140 , New Zealand
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Manzo G, Ferguson PM, Gustilo VB, Hind CK, Clifford M, Bui TT, Drake AF, Atkinson RA, Sutton JM, Batoni G, Lorenz CD, Phoenix DA, Mason AJ. Minor sequence modifications in temporin B cause drastic changes in antibacterial potency and selectivity by fundamentally altering membrane activity. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1385. [PMID: 30718667 PMCID: PMC6362004 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37630-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potential source of new molecules to counter the increase in antimicrobial resistant infections but a better understanding of their properties is required to understand their native function and for effective translation as therapeutics. Details of the mechanism of their interaction with the bacterial plasma membrane are desired since damage or penetration of this structure is considered essential for AMPs activity. Relatively modest modifications to AMPs primary sequence can induce substantial changes in potency and/or spectrum of activity but, hitherto, have not been predicted to substantially alter the mechanism of interaction with the bacterial plasma membrane. Here we use a combination of molecular dynamics simulations, circular dichroism, solid-state NMR and patch clamp to investigate the extent to which temporin B and its analogues can be distinguished both in vitro and in silico on the basis of their interactions with model membranes. Enhancing the hydrophobicity of the N-terminus and cationicity of the C-terminus in temporin B improves its membrane activity and potency against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In contrast, enhancing the cationicity of the N-terminus abrogates its ability to trigger channel conductance and renders it ineffective against Gram-positive bacteria while nevertheless enhancing its potency against Escherichia coli. Our findings suggest even closely related AMPs may target the same bacterium with fundamentally differing mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Philip M Ferguson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - V Benjamin Gustilo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte K Hind
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Melanie Clifford
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Tam T Bui
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Alex F Drake
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - R Andrew Atkinson
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - J Mark Sutton
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Giovanna Batoni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Christian D Lorenz
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London, WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | - David A Phoenix
- School of Applied Science, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - A James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom.
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42
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Potent and Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity of Analogs from the Scorpion Peptide Stigmurin. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030623. [PMID: 30709056 PMCID: PMC6387013 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Scorpion venom constitutes a rich source of biologically active compounds with high potential for therapeutic and biotechnological applications that can be used as prototypes for the design of new drugs. The aim of this study was to characterize the structural conformation, evaluate the antimicrobial activity, and gain insight into the possible action mechanism underlying it, for two new analog peptides of the scorpion peptide Stigmurin, named StigA25 and StigA31. The amino acid substitutions in the native sequence for lysine residues resulted in peptides with higher positive net charge and hydrophobicity, with an increase in the theoretical helical content. StigA25 and StigA31 showed the capacity to modify their structural conformation according to the environment, and were stable to pH and temperature variation—results similar to the native peptide. Both analog peptides demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in vitro, showing an effect superior to that of the native peptide, being non-hemolytic at the biologically active concentrations. Therefore, this study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of the analog peptides from Stigmurin and the promising approach of rational drug design based on scorpion venom peptide to obtain new anti-infective agents.
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Aisenbrey C, Marquette A, Bechinger B. The Mechanisms of Action of Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides Refined by Novel Concepts from Biophysical Investigations. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1117:33-64. [PMID: 30980352 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-3588-4_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Even 30 years after the discovery of magainins, biophysical and structural investigations on how these peptides interact with membranes can still bear surprises and add new interesting detail to how these peptides exert their antimicrobial action. Early on, using oriented solid-state NMR spectroscopy, it was found that the amphipathic helices formed by magainins are active when being oriented parallel to the membrane surface. More recent investigations indicate that this in-planar alignment is also found when PGLa and magainin in combination exert synergistic pore-forming activities, where studies on the mechanism of synergistic interaction are ongoing. In a related manner, the investigation of dimeric antimicrobial peptide sequences has become an interesting topic of research which bears promise to refine our views how antimicrobial action occurs. The molecular shape concept has been introduced to explain the effects of lipids and peptides on membrane morphology, locally and globally, and in particular of cationic amphipathic helices that partition into the membrane interface. This concept has been extended in this review to include more recent ideas on soft membranes that can adapt to external stimuli including membrane-disruptive molecules. In this manner, the lipids can change their shape in the presence of low peptide concentrations, thereby maintaining the bilayer properties. At higher peptide concentrations, phase transitions occur which lead to the formation of pores and membrane lytic processes. In the context of the molecular shape concept, the properties of lipopeptides, including surfactins, are shortly presented, and comparisons with the hydrophobic alamethicin sequence are made.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arnaud Marquette
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, Strasbourg, France
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, Strasbourg, France. .,Faculté de chimie, Institut le Bel, Strasbourg, France.
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Juretić D, Sonavane Y, Ilić N, Gajski G, Goić-Barišić I, Tonkić M, Kozic M, Maravić A, Pellay FX, Zoranić L. Designed peptide with a flexible central motif from ranatuerins adapts its conformation to bacterial membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2018; 1860:2655-2668. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Zhang Y, Chen T, Pan Z, Sun X, Yin X, He M, Xiao S, Liang H. Theoretical Insights into the Interactions between Star-Shaped Antimicrobial Polypeptides and Bacterial Membranes. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:13438-13448. [PMID: 30350688 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b02677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial polypeptide consisting of lysine and valine residues is a new class of antimicrobial agent with superior antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and low toxicity toward mammalian cells. Utilizing coarse-grained models, we studied the interactions of microbial cytoplasmic membranes with polypeptides of either (K2V1)5 (star-KV) or CM15 (star-CM15). Our computational results verify the low toxicity of polypeptides of (K2V1)5 toward the dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayer. This low toxicity is demonstrated to originate from weakened hydrophobicity combined with its random coil conformation for (K2V1)5 because of the highly abundant valine residues, compared with the typical antimicrobial peptides, such as CM15. In the interactions with a palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine/palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol bilayer, star-KV has greater ability in phase separation and generation of phase boundary defects not only in lipid redistribution but also in lateral dynamic movements, although both star-KV and star-CM15 can extract the phosphatidylglycerol lipids and purify the phosphatidylethanolamine lipids into continuum domains. We suggest that the polypeptide of (K2V1)5 can nondisruptively kill bacteria by hampering bacterial metabolism through reorganizing lipid domain distribution and simultaneously "freezing" lipid movement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhimeng Pan
- School of Computing , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , Utah 84112 , United States
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Bagheri M, Amininasab M, Dathe M. Arginine/Tryptophan-Rich Cyclic α/β-Antimicrobial Peptides: The Roles of Hydrogen Bonding and Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Solvent-Accessible Surface Areas upon Activity and Membrane Selectivity. Chemistry 2018; 24:14242-14253. [PMID: 29969522 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201802881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The bacterial selectivity of an amphiphilic library of small cyclic α/β-tetra-, α/β-penta-, and α/β-hexapeptides rich in arginine/tryptophan (Arg/Trp) residues, which contains asymmetric backbone configurations and differ in hydrophobicity and alternating d,l-amino acids, was investigated against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The structural analyses showed that the peptides tend to form assemblies of different shapes. All-l-peptides, especially the most hydrophobic pentamers, were more strongly anti-B. subtilis. With the exception to cyclo(Phe-d-Trp-β3 hArg-Arg-d-Trp) (Phe=phenylalanine), the peptides had no effects on inner membrane of E. coli, but lyzed the lipopolysaccharide layer according to their activity pattern. The activities adversely changed with a decrease in the number of amide intramolecular hydrogen bonds in assemblies of diastereomeric peptides and the ratio of hydrophobic/hydrophilic solvent-accessible surface areas. The remarkable enhanced entropic contribution for the partitioning of the least conformationally constrained cyclo(Trp-d-Phe-β3 hTrp-Arg-d-Arg) sequence into the membranes supported the strong self-assembly behavior, therefore making the peptide less penetrable through the E. coli outer layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Bagheri
- Peptide Chemistry Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, 16 Azar Street, 14176-14335, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehriar Amininasab
- Department of cell and molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of, Tehran, Iran
| | - Margitta Dathe
- Leibniz institute of molecular pharmacology (FMP), Robert Roessle Street 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany
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Man DKW, Kanno T, Manzo G, Robertson BD, Lam JKW, Mason AJ. Rifampin- or Capreomycin-Induced Remodeling of the Mycobacterium smegmatis Mycolic Acid Layer Is Mitigated in Synergistic Combinations with Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides. mSphere 2018; 3:e00218-18. [PMID: 30021876 PMCID: PMC6052339 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00218-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The mycobacterial cell wall affords natural resistance to antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) modify the surface properties of mycobacteria and can act synergistically with antibiotics from differing classes. Here, we investigate the response of Mycobacterium smegmatis to the presence of rifampin or capreomycin, either alone or in combination with two synthetic, cationic, α-helical AMPs that are distinguished by the presence (D-LAK120-HP13) or absence (D-LAK120-A) of a kink-inducing proline. Using a combination of high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS NMR) metabolomics, diphenylhexatriene (DPH) fluorescence anisotropy measurements, and laurdan emission spectroscopy, we show that M. smegmatis responds to challenge with rifampin or capreomycin by substantially altering its metabolism and, in particular, by remodeling the cell envelope. Overall, the changes are consistent with a reduction of trehalose dimycolate and an increase of trehalose monomycolate and are associated with increased rigidity of the mycolic acid layer observed following challenge by capreomycin but not rifampin. Challenge with D-LAK120-A or D-LAK120-HP13 induced no or modest changes, respectively, in mycomembrane metabolites and did not induce a significant increase in the rigidity of the mycolic acid layer. Furthermore, the response to rifampin or capreomycin was significantly reduced when these were combined with D-LAK120-HP13 and D-LAK120-A, respectively, suggesting a possible mechanism for the synergy of these combinations. The remodeling of the mycomembrane in M. smegmatis is therefore identified as an important countermeasure deployed against rifampin or capreomycin, but this can be mitigated and the efficacy of rifampin or capreomycin potentiated by combining the drug with AMPs.IMPORTANCE We have used a combined NMR metabolomics/biophysical approach to better understand differences in the mechanisms of two closely related antimicrobial peptides, as well as the response of the model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis to challenge with first- or second-line antibiotics used against mycobacterial pathogens. We show that, in addition to membrane damage, the triggering of oxidative stress may be an important part of the mechanism of action of one AMP. The metabolic shift that accompanied rifampin and, particularly, capreomycin challenge was associated with modest and more dramatic changes, respectively, in the mycomembrane, providing a rationale for how the response to one antibiotic may affect bacterial penetration and, hence, the action of another. This study presents the first insights into how antimicrobial peptides may operate synergistically with existing antibiotics whose efficacy is waning or sensitize MDR mycobacteria and/or latent mycobacterial infections to them, prolonging the useful life of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- DeDe Kwun-Wai Man
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tokuwa Kanno
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Brian D Robertson
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny K W Lam
- Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - A James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Marquette A, Bechinger B. Biophysical Investigations Elucidating the Mechanisms of Action of Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Synergism. Biomolecules 2018; 8:E18. [PMID: 29670065 PMCID: PMC6023007 DOI: 10.3390/biom8020018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Biophysical and structural investigations are presented with a focus on the membrane lipid interactions of cationic linear antibiotic peptides such as magainin, PGLa, LL37, and melittin. Observations made with these peptides are distinct as seen from data obtained with the hydrophobic peptide alamethicin. The cationic amphipathic peptides predominantly adopt membrane alignments parallel to the bilayer surface; thus the distribution of polar and non-polar side chains of the amphipathic helices mirror the environmental changes at the membrane interface. Such a membrane partitioning of an amphipathic helix has been shown to cause considerable disruptions in the lipid packing arrangements, transient openings at low peptide concentration, and membrane disintegration at higher peptide-to-lipid ratios. The manifold supramolecular arrangements adopted by lipids and peptides are represented by the 'soft membranes adapt and respond, also transiently' (SMART) model. Whereas molecular dynamics simulations provide atomistic views on lipid membranes in the presence of antimicrobial peptides, the biophysical investigations reveal interesting details on a molecular and supramolecular level, and recent microscopic imaging experiments delineate interesting sequences of events when bacterial cells are exposed to such peptides. Finally, biophysical studies that aim to reveal the mechanisms of synergistic interactions of magainin 2 and PGLa are presented, including unpublished isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism (CD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements that suggest that the peptides are involved in liposome agglutination by mediating intermembrane interactions. A number of structural events are presented in schematic models that relate to the antimicrobial and synergistic mechanism of amphipathic peptides when they are aligned parallel to the membrane surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Marquette
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
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Orekhov PS, Kholina EG, Bozdaganyan ME, Nesterenko AM, Kovalenko IB, Strakhovskaya MG. Molecular Mechanism of Uptake of Cationic Photoantimicrobial Phthalocyanine across Bacterial Membranes Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:3711-3722. [PMID: 29553736 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b11707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Phthalocyanines are aromatic macrocyclic compounds, which are structurally related to porphyrins. In clinical practice, phthalocyanines are used in fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy of cancer and noncancer lesions. Certain forms of the substituted polycationic metallophthalocyanines have been previously shown to be active in photodynamic inactivation of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria; one of them is zinc octakis(cholinyl)phthalocyanine (ZnPcChol8+). However, the molecular details of how these compounds translocate across bacterial membranes still remain unclear. In the present work, we have developed a coarse-grained (CG) molecular model of ZnPcChol8+ within the framework of the popular MARTINI CG force field. The obtained model was used to probe the solvation behavior of phthalocyanine molecules, which agreed with experimental results. Subsequently, it was used to investigate the molecular details of interactions between phthalocyanines and membranes of various compositions. The results demonstrate that ZnPcChol8+ has high affinity to both the inner and the outer model membranes of Gram-negative bacteria, although this species does not show noticeable affinity to the 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine membrane. Furthermore, we found out that the process of ZnPcChol8+ penetration toward the center of the outer bacterial membrane is energetically favorable and leads to its overall disturbance and formation of the aqueous pore. Such intramembrane localization of ZnPcChol8+ suggests their twofold cytotoxic effect on bacterial cells: (1) via induction of lipid peroxidation by enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (i.e., photodynamic toxicity); (2) via rendering the bacterial membrane more permeable for additional Pc molecules as well as other compounds. We also found that the kinetics of penetration depends on the presence of phospholipid defects in the lipopolysaccharide leaflet of the outer membrane and the type of counterions, which stabilize it. Thus, the results of our simulations provide a detailed molecular view of ZnPcChol8+ "self-promoted uptake", the pathway previously proposed for some small molecules crossing the outer bacterial membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp S Orekhov
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology , Dolgoprudny 141700 , Russia.,Sechenov University , Trubetskaya 8-2 , Moscow 119991 , Russia
| | | | - Marine E Bozdaganyan
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies , Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia , Moscow 115682 , Russia
| | | | - Ilya B Kovalenko
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies , Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia , Moscow 115682 , Russia.,Astrakhan State University , Astrakhan 414056 , Russia.,Scientific and Technological Center of Unique Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow 117342 , Russia
| | - Marina G Strakhovskaya
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies , Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia , Moscow 115682 , Russia
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50
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Niu Y, Wang M, Cao Y, Nimmagadda A, Hu J, Wu Y, Cai J, Ye XS. Rational Design of Dimeric Lysine N-Alkylamides as Potent and Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents. J Med Chem 2018; 61:2865-2874. [PMID: 29569910 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to public health, and new antibacterial agents hence are in an urgent need to combat infectious diseases caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Utilizing dimerization strategy, we rationally designed and efficiently synthesized a new series of small molecule dimeric lysine alkylamides as mimics of AMPs. Evaluation of these mimics against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including MDR strains was performed, and a broad-spectrum and potent compound 3d was identified. This compound displayed high specificity toward bacteria over mammalian cell. Time-kill kinetics and mechanistic studies suggest that compound 3d quickly eliminated bacteria in a bactericidal mode by disrupting bacterial cell membrane. In addition, lead compound 3d could inhibit biofilm formation and did not develop drug resistance in S. aureus and E. coli over 14 passages. These results suggested that dimeric lysine nonylamide has immense potential as a new type of novel small molecular agent to combat antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhong Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , Xue Yuan Road No.38 , Beijing 100191 , China
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Chemistry , University of South Florida , 4202 E. Fowler Avenue , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
| | - Yafei Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , Xue Yuan Road No.38 , Beijing 100191 , China
| | - Alekhya Nimmagadda
- Department of Chemistry , University of South Florida , 4202 E. Fowler Avenue , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
| | - Jianxing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , Xue Yuan Road No.38 , Beijing 100191 , China
| | - Yanfen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , Xue Yuan Road No.38 , Beijing 100191 , China
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry , University of South Florida , 4202 E. Fowler Avenue , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
| | - Xin-Shan Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , Xue Yuan Road No.38 , Beijing 100191 , China
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