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Gatto E, Toniolo C, Venanzi M. Peptide Self-Assembled Nanostructures: From Models to Therapeutic Peptides. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12030466. [PMID: 35159810 PMCID: PMC8838750 DOI: 10.3390/nano12030466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Self-assembly is the most suitable approach to obtaining peptide-based materials on the nano- and mesoscopic scales. Applications span from peptide drugs for personalized therapy to light harvesting and electron conductive media for solar energy production and bioelectronics, respectively. In this study, we will discuss the self-assembly of selected model and bioactive peptides, in particular reviewing our recent work on the formation of peptide architectures of nano- and mesoscopic size in solution and on solid substrates. The hierarchical and cooperative characters of peptide self-assembly will be highlighted, focusing on the structural and dynamical properties of the peptide building blocks and on the nature of the intermolecular interactions driving the aggregation phenomena in a given environment. These results will pave the way for the understanding of the still-debated mechanism of action of an antimicrobial peptide (trichogin GA IV) and the pharmacokinetic properties of a peptide drug (semaglutide) currently in use for the therapy of type-II diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Gatto
- PEPSA-LAB, Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Claudio Toniolo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy;
| | - Mariano Venanzi
- PEPSA-LAB, Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-7259-4468
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Messina GML, Mazzuca C, Dettin M, Zamuner A, Di Napoli B, Ripani G, Marletta G, Palleschi A. From nanoaggregates to mesoscale ribbons: the multistep self-organization of amphiphilic peptides. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:3605-3614. [PMID: 36133720 PMCID: PMC9418424 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00216c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports atomic force microscopy results and molecular dynamics simulations of the striking differences of long-term self-organization structures of negatively charged (AcA4)2KD (double tail) and AcA4D (single tail) peptides, respectively, forming micrometer-long, linearly ordered ribbon-like structures and nanometer-sized, unstructured, round-shaped aggregates. The subsequent formation steps of the long-range nanoribbons, experimentally observed only for the "double tail" (AcA4)2KD peptide, are analyzed in detail, showing that the initial "primary" unstructured round-shaped aggregates progressively evolve into longer nanofilaments and into micrometer-long, network-forming nanoribbon moieties. In particular, the long-range self-organization of the "double tail" peptides appears to be closely related to electrostatically driven diffusional motions of the primary aggregates and nanofilaments. The diffusional freedom degrees are prompted by the formation of a dynamic ternary air/liquid/substrate interface, due to the water evaporation process from the ultrathin films of the peptide solution cast onto a solid mica substrate. Overall, the initial aggregation of unstructured round-shaped moieties, for both the peptides, can be seen as an entropy-driven process, involving the intra- and intermolecular interactions of hydrophobic parts of the peptides, while the further formation of long nanoribbons, only for "double tail" peptides, can be viewed in terms of an enthalpy-driven process, mainly due to the predominant electrostatic interactions between the charged heads of the interacting peptides. The role of the solid-liquid interface, as the locus of the enthalpy-driven linear organization, is also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia M L Messina
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN), Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, CSGI Viale A. Doria 6 I-95125 Catania Italy
| | - Claudia Mazzuca
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Monica Dettin
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova Padova Italy
| | - Annj Zamuner
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova Padova Italy
| | - Benedetta Di Napoli
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Giorgio Ripani
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Giovanni Marletta
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN), Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, CSGI Viale A. Doria 6 I-95125 Catania Italy
| | - Antonio Palleschi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 00133 Rome Italy
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De Zotti M, Corvi G, Gatto E, Di Napoli B, Mazzuca C, Palleschi A, Placidi E, Biondi B, Crisma M, Formaggio F, Toniolo C, Venanzi M. Controlling the Formation of Peptide Films: Fully Developed Helical Peptides are Required to Obtain a Homogenous Coating over a Large Area. Chempluschem 2020; 84:1688-1696. [PMID: 31943881 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201900456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The influence of conformational dynamics on the self-assembly process of a conformationally constrained analogue of the natural antimicrobial peptide Trichogin GA IV was analysed by spectroscopic methods, microscopy imaging at nanometre resolution, and molecular dynamics simulations. The formation of peptide films at the air/water interface and their deposition on a graphite or a mica substrate were investigated. A combination of experimental evidence with molecular dynamics simulation was used to demonstrate that only the fully developed helical structure of the analogue promotes formation of ordered aggregates that nucleate the growth of micrometric rods, which give rise to homogenous coating over wide regions of the hydrophilic mica. This work proves the influence of helix flexibility on peptide self-organization and orientation on surfaces, key steps in the design of bioinspired organic/inorganic hybrid materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta De Zotti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Gabriele Corvi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Gatto
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Benedetta Di Napoli
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Mazzuca
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Palleschi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Ernesto Placidi
- ISM Unit, CNR, Department of Physics, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Biondi
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, Padova Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Crisma
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, Padova Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Fernando Formaggio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, Padova Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Claudio Toniolo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, Padova Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Mariano Venanzi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
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Messina GML, Di Napoli B, De Zotti M, Mazzuca C, Formaggio F, Palleschi A, Marletta G. Molecular Sponge: pH-Driven Reversible Squeezing of Stimuli-Sensitive Peptide Monolayers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:4813-4824. [PMID: 30864802 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b03895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The cyclic change of structure, thickness, and density, with pH switching from acidic (pH = 3) to basic (pH = 11) condition, has been revealed for chemisorbed monolayers of the peptide Lipo-Aib-Lys-Leu-Aib-Lys-Lys-Leu-Aib-Lys-Ile-Lol, a trichogin GA IV-analogue carrying Lys residues instead of Gly ones at positions 2, 5, 6, and 9, while a homologous peptide not containing Lys residues does not show any response to pH changes. Experimental and theoretical results, obtained by means of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, surface plasmon resonance, nanoplasmonic sensing technique, Fourier transform infrared-reflection attenuated spectroscopy and dynamic force spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations provide detailed information on the overall monolayer structure changes with pH, including the analysis of the intra- and interchain peptide dynamics, the structure of the peptide layer/water/solid interface, as well as the position and role of solvation and nonsolvation water. The observed stimuli-responsive behavior of L1 peptide monolayers is accounted in terms of the occurrence of a pH-induced wetting/dewetting process, due to the pH-induced switching of the hydrophilic character of charged lysine groups to hydrophobic one of the same uncharged groups, along the peptide chain. This behavior in turn promotes the collective change of the aggregation state of the peptide chains. The present results may pave the way to critically reexamine the mechanism of stimuli-responsive systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia M L Messina
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN), Department of Chemical Sciences , University of Catania and CSGI , Viale Andrea Doria 6 , 95125 Catania , Italy
| | - Benedetta Di Napoli
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Roma Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica , 00133 Roma , Italy
| | - Marta De Zotti
- CB Padova Unit, CNR, Department of Chemistry , University of Padova , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Claudia Mazzuca
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Roma Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica , 00133 Roma , Italy
| | - Fernando Formaggio
- CB Padova Unit, CNR, Department of Chemistry , University of Padova , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Antonio Palleschi
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Roma Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica , 00133 Roma , Italy
| | - Giovanni Marletta
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN), Department of Chemical Sciences , University of Catania and CSGI , Viale Andrea Doria 6 , 95125 Catania , Italy
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