1
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Leveraro S, Garstka K, Śliwka P, Janek T, Rowińska-Żyrek M, Remelli M, Bellotti D. Metal coordination governs the antimicrobial efficacy of calcitermin derivatives. Dalton Trans 2024. [PMID: 39012520 DOI: 10.1039/d4dt01514b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are promising alternatives to classical antibiotics. Their microbicidal activity can arise from different mechanisms, one of which is known as nutritional immunity and has metal micronutrients and metal-binding biomolecules as its main players. Calcitermin is an antimicrobial peptide and an effective metal chelator. Its properties as an antibacterial and anti-Candida agent have been recently studied both as a free peptide and in the presence of zinc and copper ions, with which it forms stable complexes. Calcitermin derivatives have also gained attention thanks to the possibility of improving their properties, like metal-binding affinity and/or stability in biological fluids, through ad hoc modifications of the native peptide sequence. In this work, the Ala-to-Ser substitutions close to the coordination site of calcitermin have been introduced to study the impact on the biological activity and metal-binding properties. Our results show that metal coordination has a clear impact on the bioactivity of the studied compounds, to the point that the truncated fragment of calcitermin, solely containing the main metal-binding residues, also shows antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Leveraro
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Kinga Garstka
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paulina Śliwka
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tomasz Janek
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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2
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Brango-Vanegas J, Leite ML, Macedo MLR, Cardoso MH, Franco OL. Capping motifs in antimicrobial peptides and their relevance for improved biological activities. Front Chem 2024; 12:1382954. [PMID: 38873409 PMCID: PMC11169826 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1382954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
N-capping (N-cap) and C-capping (C-cap) in biologically active peptides, including specific amino acids or unconventional group motifs, have been shown to modulate activity against pharmacological targets by interfering with the peptide's secondary structure, thus generating unusual scaffolds. The insertion of capping motifs in linear peptides has been shown to prevent peptide degradation by reducing its susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage, and the replacement of some functional groups by unusual groups in N- or C-capping regions in linear peptides has led to optimized peptide variants with improved secondary structure and enhanced activity. Furthermore, some essential amino acid residues that, when placed in antimicrobial peptide (AMP) capping regions, are capable of complexing metals such as Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, give rise to the family known as metallo-AMPs, which are capable of boosting antimicrobial efficacy, as well as other activities. Therefore, this review presents and discusses the different strategies for creating N- and C-cap motifs in AMPs, aiming at fine-tuning this class of antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Brango-Vanegas
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Michel Lopes Leite
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Maria L. R. Macedo
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Marlon H. Cardoso
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
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3
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Kamińska J, Hecel A, Słowik J, Rombel-Bryzek A, Rowińska-Żyrek M, Witkowska D. Characterization of four peptides from milk fermented with kombucha cultures and their metal complexes-in search of new biotherapeutics. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1366588. [PMID: 38638688 PMCID: PMC11024286 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1366588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The most common skin diseases include eczema, psoriasis, acne, and fungal infections. There is often no effective cure for them. Increasing antimicrobial drug resistance prompts us to search for new, safe, and effective therapeutics. Among such interesting candidates are peptides derived from milk fermented with specific lactic acid bacteria or with kombucha cultures, which are a potential treasure trove of bioactive peptides. Four of them are discussed in this article. Their interactions with zinc and copper ions, which are known to improve the well-being of the skin, were characterized by potentiometry, MS, ITC, and spectroscopic methods, and their cytostatic potential was analyzed. The results suggest that they are safe for human cells and can be used alone or in complexes with copper for further testing as potential therapeutics for skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Kamińska
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Opole, Poland
| | | | - Joanna Słowik
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Opole, Poland
| | | | | | - Danuta Witkowska
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Opole, Poland
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4
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Wątły J, Szarszoń K, Mikołajczyk A, Grelich-Mucha M, Matera-Witkiewicz A, Olesiak-Bańska J, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Zn(II) Induces Fibril Formation and Antifungal Activity in Shepherin I, An Antimicrobial Peptide from Capsella bursa-pastoris. Inorg Chem 2023; 62:19786-19794. [PMID: 37983127 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c03409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Shepherin I is a glycine- and histidine-rich antimicrobial peptide from the root of a shepherd's purse, whose antimicrobial activity was suggested to be enhanced by the presence of Zn(II) ions. We describe Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes of this peptide, aiming to understand the correlation between their metal binding mode, structure, morphology, and biological activity. We observe a logical sequence of phenomena, each of which is the result of the previous one: (i) Zn(II) coordinates to shepherin I, (ii) causes a structural change, which, in turn, (iii) results in fibril formation. Eventually, this chain of structural changes has a (iv) biological consequence: The shepherin I-Zn(II) fibrils are highly antifungal. What is of particular interest, both fibril formation and strong anticandidal activity are only observed for the shepherin I-Zn(II) complex, linking its structural rearrangement that occurs after metal binding with its morphology and biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Wątły
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Klaudia Szarszoń
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Mikołajczyk
- Screening of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material Laboratory, Wrocław Medical University Biobank, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wrocław Medical University, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Manuela Grelich-Mucha
- Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Matera-Witkiewicz
- Screening of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material Laboratory, Wrocław Medical University Biobank, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wrocław Medical University, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Joanna Olesiak-Bańska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
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5
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Bellotti D, Leveraro S, Hecel A, Remelli M. Investigation of metal interactions with YrpE protein of Bacillus subtilis by a polyhistidine peptide model. Anal Biochem 2023; 680:115315. [PMID: 37689096 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2023.115315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
The use of model peptides that can simulate the behaviour of a protein domain is a very successful analytical method to study the metal coordination sites in biological systems. Here we study zinc and copper binding ability of the sequence HTHEHSHDHSHAH, which serves as model for the metal interactions with YrpE, a putative metal-binding protein of the ZinT family identified in Bacillus subtilis. Compared to other ZinT proteins secreted by Gram-negative bacteria, the metal-coordination properties of YrpE N-terminal histidine-rich domain have not been yet characterized. Different independent analytical methods, aimed at providing information on the stability and structure of the formed species, have been employed, including potentiometric titrations, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The obtained speciation models and equilibrium constants allowed to compare the metal-binding ability of the investigated polyhistidine sequence with that of other well-known histidine-rich peptides. Our thermodynamic results revealed that the YrpE domain HTHEHSHDHSHAH forms more stable metal complexes than other His-rich domains of similar ZinT proteins. Moreover, the studied peptide, containing the alternated (-XH-)n motif, proved to be even more effective than the His6-tag (widely used in immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography) in binding zinc ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy; Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Silvia Leveraro
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Aleksandra Hecel
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
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6
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D'Accolti M, Bellotti D, Dzień E, Leonetti C, Leveraro S, Albanese V, Marzola E, Guerrini R, Caselli E, Rowińska-Żyrek M, Remelli M. Impact of C- and N-terminal protection on the stability, metal chelation and antimicrobial properties of calcitermin. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18228. [PMID: 37880318 PMCID: PMC10600247 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45437-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The main limitation to the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as regular drugs, against antibiotic and antifungal resistance, mainly relates to their rapid degradation by proteolytic enzymes. The introduction of suitable structural changes in the peptide chain can make the peptide less susceptible to the action of proteases, thus overcoming this problem. To improve the plasma stability of calcitermin, a metal-chelating AMP present in the human respiratory tract and investigated in the present study, C- and/or N- terminal modifications have been introduced in the native sequence. Evaluation of peptide stability has been performed to determine the half-life times in human plasma of both native calcitermin and its derivatives. However, the protection of the peptide termini can also affect its metal coordination behaviour. Thus, the characterization of Zn2+ and Cu2+ complexes has been performed by means of several techniques, including potentiometry, high-resolution mass spectrometry, UV-Vis, circular dichroism and EPR. On the basis of the obtained results, it was possible to compare the biological activity of the studied systems, taking into account both the metal-binding ability and the peptide stability to search for a link among them. A significant result of this study is that the N-terminal protection increases the calcitermin half-life over seven times and the formation of metal complexes confers resistance towards degradation almost doubling its half-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D'Accolti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Emilia Dzień
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Carlotta Leonetti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Leveraro
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valentina Albanese
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Erika Marzola
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Caselli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
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7
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Dudek D, Miller A, Hecel A, Kola A, Valensin D, Mikołajczyk A, Barcelo-Oliver M, Matera-Witkiewicz A, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Semenogelins Armed in Zn(II) and Cu(II): May Bioinorganic Chemistry Help Nature to Cope with Enterococcus faecalis? Inorg Chem 2023; 62:14103-14115. [PMID: 37582221 PMCID: PMC10466376 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c02390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Proteolytic degradation of semenogelins, the most abundant proteins from human semen, results in the formation of 26- and 29-amino acid peptides (SgIIA and SgI-29, respectively), which share a common 15 amino acid fragment (Sg-15). All three ligands are effective Zn(II) and Cu(II) binders; in solution, a variety of differently metalated species exist in equilibrium, with the [NH2, 3Nim] donor set prevailing at physiological pH in the case of both metals. For the first time, the Cu(II)-induced antimicrobial activity of Sg-15 against Enterococcus faecalis is shown. In the case of the two native semenogelin fragment metal complexes, the strong local positive charge in the metal-bound HH motif correlates well with their antimicrobial activity. A careful analysis of semenogelins' metal coordination behavior reveals two facts: (i) The histamine-like Cu(II) binding mode of SgI-29 strongly increases the stability of such a complex below pH 6 (with respect to the non-histamine-like binding of SgIIA), while in the case of the SgI-29 Zn(II)-histamine-like species, the stability enhancement is less pronounced. (ii) The HH sequence is a more tempting site for Cu(II) ions than the HXH one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Dudek
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Adriana Miller
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Hecel
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Arian Kola
- Department
of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Valensin
- Department
of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Aleksandra Mikołajczyk
- Screening
of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material
Laboratory, Wroclaw Medical University Biobank,
Faculty of Pharmacy, Wrocław Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Miquel Barcelo-Oliver
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de
Mallorca, Spain
| | - Agnieszka Matera-Witkiewicz
- Screening
of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material
Laboratory, Wroclaw Medical University Biobank,
Faculty of Pharmacy, Wrocław Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
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Bellotti D, Leveraro S, Remelli M. Metal-protein solution interactions investigated using model systems: Thermodynamic and spectroscopic methods. Methods Enzymol 2023; 687:279-341. [PMID: 37666636 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The first-row D-block metal ions are essential for the physiology of living organisms, functioning as cofactors in metalloproteins or structural components for enzymes: almost half of all proteins require metals to perform the biological function. Understanding metal-protein interactions is crucial to unravel the mysteries behind molecular biology, understanding the effects of metal imbalance and toxicity or the diseases due to disorders in metal homeostasis. Metal-protein interactions are dynamic: they are noncovalent and affected by the environment to which the system is exposed. To reach a complete comprehension of the system, different conditions must be considered for the experimental investigation, in order to get information on the species distribution, the ligand coordination modes, complex stoichiometry and geometry. Thinking about the whole environment where a protein acts, investigations are often challenging, and simplifications are required to study in detail the mechanisms of metal interaction. This chapter is intended to help researchers addressing the problem of the complexity of metal-protein interactions, with particular emphasis on the use of peptides as model systems for the metal coordination site. The thermodynamic and spectroscopic methods most widely employed to investigate the interaction between metal ions and peptides in solution are here covered. These include solid-phase peptide synthesis, potentiometric titrations, calorimetry, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Additional experimental methods, which can be employed to study metal complexes with peptides, are also briefly mentioned. A case-study is finally reported providing a practical example of the investigation of metal-protein interaction by means of thermodynamic and spectroscopic methods applied to peptide model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bellotti
- University of Ferrara, Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, via L. Borsari, Ferrara, Italy; Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Silvia Leveraro
- University of Ferrara, Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, via L. Borsari, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maurizio Remelli
- University of Ferrara, Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, via L. Borsari, Ferrara, Italy.
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9
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Dzyhovskyi V, Stokowa-Sołtys K. Divalent metal ion binding to Staphylococcus aureus FeoB transporter regions. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 244:112203. [PMID: 37018851 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Transition metal ions such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese or, nickel are essential in many biological processes. Bacteria have developed a number of mechanisms for their acquisition and transport, in which numerous of proteins and smaller molecules are involved. One of the representatives of these proteins is FeoB, which belongs to the Feo (ferrous ion transporter) family. Although ferrous iron transport system is widespread among microorganisms, it is still poorly described in Gram-positive pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus. In this work, combined potentiometric and spectroscopic studies (UV-Vis, CD and EPR) were carried out to determine Cu(II), Fe(II) and Zn(II) binding modes to FeoB fragments (Ac-IDYHKLMK-NH2, Ac-ETSHDKY-NH2, and Ac-SFLHMVGS-NH2). For the first time iron(II) complexes with peptides were characterized by potentiometry. All studied ligands are able to form a variety of thermodynamically stable complexes with transition metal ions. It was concluded that among the studied systems, the most effective metal ion binding is observed for the Ac-ETSHDKY-NH2 peptide. Moreover, comparing preferences of all ligands towards different metal ions, copper(II) complexes are the most stable ones at physiological pH.
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10
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Donaghy C, Javellana JG, Hong YJ, Djoko K, Angeles-Boza AM. The Synergy between Zinc and Antimicrobial Peptides: An Insight into Unique Bioinorganic Interactions. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28052156. [PMID: 36903402 PMCID: PMC10004757 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28052156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential components of innate immunity across all species. AMPs have become the focus of attention in recent years, as scientists are addressing antibiotic resistance, a public health crisis that has reached epidemic proportions. This family of peptides represents a promising alternative to current antibiotics due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and tendency to avoid resistance development. A subfamily of AMPs interacts with metal ions to potentiate antimicrobial effectiveness, and, as such, they have been termed metalloAMPs. In this work, we review the scientific literature on metalloAMPs that enhance their antimicrobial efficacy when combined with the essential metal ion zinc(II). Beyond the role played by Zn(II) as a cofactor in different systems, it is well-known that this metal ion plays an important role in innate immunity. Here, we classify the different types of synergistic interactions between AMPs and Zn(II) into three distinct classes. By better understanding how each class of metalloAMPs uses Zn(II) to potentiate its activity, researchers can begin to exploit these interactions in the development of new antimicrobial agents and accelerate their use as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Donaghy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | | | - Young-Jin Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Karrera Djoko
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
- Correspondence: (K.D.); (A.M.A.-B.)
| | - Alfredo M. Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Institute of Materials Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Correspondence: (K.D.); (A.M.A.-B.)
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11
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Bellotti D, D’Accolti M, Pula W, Huang N, Simeliere F, Caselli E, Esposito E, Remelli M. Calcitermin-Loaded Smart Gels Activity against Candida albicans: A Preliminary In Vitro Study. Gels 2023; 9:gels9020165. [PMID: 36826335 PMCID: PMC9957098 DOI: 10.3390/gels9020165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcitermin is an antimicrobial peptide of 15 amino acids found in human nasal fluid characterized by antifungal and antibacterial properties. Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen affecting many tissues, such as vaginal mucosa. In this study a formulation suitable for calcitermin administration on vaginal mucosa was developed for the treatment of fungal infections. To favor topical application, mucosal adhesion, and permanence, gels based on poloxamer 407 and xanthan gum were designed and compared with regard to their rheological behavior, erosion, and leakage. The selected gel was loaded with calcitermin, whose release kinetic was evaluated in vitro by Franz cells. An antifungal activity assay was conducted to assess the calcitermin anticandidal potential and the effect of its inclusion in the selected gel. The rheological study revealed the elastic and viscous moduli behavior as a function of poloxamer 407 and xanthan gum concentration. Xanthan gum presence decreased the transition temperature of the gel, while prolonging its erosion and leakage. Particularly, poloxamer 407, 18% and xanthan gum 0.4% were chosen. The calcitermin loading in the selected gel resulted in a transparent and homogeneous formulation and in a 4-fold decrease of the release rate with respect to the calcitermin solution, as evidenced by Franz cell study. The anticandidal activity tests demonstrated that calcitermin-loaded gel was more active against Candida albicans with respect to the peptide solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Maria D’Accolti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Walter Pula
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicolas Huang
- Institut Galien Paris-Saclay (CNRS UMR 8612), Faculté de Pharmacie, Bâtiment Henri Moissan, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Fanny Simeliere
- Institut Galien Paris-Saclay (CNRS UMR 8612), Faculté de Pharmacie, Bâtiment Henri Moissan, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Elisabetta Caselli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Elisabetta Esposito
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
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Bellotti D, Remelli M. Lights and Shadows on the Therapeutic Use of Antimicrobial Peptides. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27144584. [PMID: 35889455 PMCID: PMC9317528 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant infections is still a major concern for public health worldwide. The number of pathogenic microorganisms capable of resisting common therapeutic treatments are constantly increasing, highlighting the need of innovative and more effective drugs. This phenomenon is strictly connected to the rapid metabolism of microorganisms: due to the huge number of mutations that can occur in a relatively short time, a colony can “adapt” to the pharmacological treatment with the evolution of new resistant species. However, the shortage of available antimicrobial drugs in clinical use is also caused by the high costs involved in developing and marketing new drugs without an adequate guarantee of an economic return; therefore, the pharmaceutical companies have reduced their investments in this area. The use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represents a promising strategy for the design of new therapeutic agents. AMPs act as immune defense mediators of the host organism and show a poor ability to induce antimicrobial resistance, coupled with other advantages such as a broad spectrum of activity, not excessive synthetic costs and low toxicity of both the peptide itself and its own metabolites. It is also important to underline that many antimicrobial peptides, due to their inclination to attack cell membranes, have additional biological activities, such as, for example, as anti-cancer drugs. Unfortunately, they usually undergo rapid degradation by proteolytic enzymes and are characterized by poor bioavailability, preventing their extensive clinical use and landing on the pharmaceutical market. This review is focused on the strength and weak points of antimicrobial peptides as therapeutic agents. We give an overview on the AMPs already employed in clinical practice, which are examples of successful strategies aimed at overcoming the main drawbacks of peptide-based drugs. The review deepens the most promising strategies to design modified antimicrobial peptides with higher proteolytic stability with the purpose of giving a comprehensive summary of the commonly employed approaches to evaluate and optimize the peptide potentialities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bellotti
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Zn2+ and Cu2+ Binding to the Extramembrane Loop of Zrt2, a Zinc Transporter of Candida albicans. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010121. [PMID: 35053269 PMCID: PMC8773511 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Zrt2 is a zinc transporter of the ZIP family. It is predicted to be located in the plasma membrane and it is essential for Candida albicans zinc uptake and growth at acidic pH. Zrt2 from C. albicans is composed of 370 amino acids and contains eight putative transmembrane domains and an extra-membrane disordered loop, corresponding to the amino acid sequence 126–215. This protein region contains at least three possible metal binding motifs: HxHxHxxD (144–153), HxxHxxEHxD (181–193) and the Glu- and Asp- rich sequence DDEEEDxE (161–168). The corresponding model peptides, protected at their termini (Ac-GPHTHSHFGD-NH2, Ac-DDEEEDLE-NH2 and Ac-PSHFAHAQEHQDP-NH2), have been investigated in order to elucidate the thermodynamic and coordination properties of their Zn2+ and Cu2+ complexes, with the further aim to identify the most effective metal binding site among the three fragments. Furthermore, we extended the investigation to the peptides Ac-GPHTHAHFGD-NH2 and Ac-PAHFAHAQEHQDP-NH2, where serine residues have been substituted by alanines in order to check if the presence of a serine residue may favor the displacement of amidic protons by Cu2+. In the native Zrt2 protein, the Ac-GPHTHSHFGD-NH2 region of the Zrt2 loop has the highest metal binding affinity, showing that three alternated histidines separated by only one residue (-HxHxH-) bind Zn2+ and Cu2+ more strongly than the region in which three histidines are separated by two and three His residues (-HxxHxxxH- in Ac-PSHFAHAQEHQDP-NH2). All studied Zrt2 loop fragments have lower affinity towards Zn2+ than the zinc(II) binding site on the Zrt1 transporter; also, all three Zrt2 regions bind Zn2+ and Cu2+ with comparable affinity below pH 5 and, therefore, may equally contribute to the metal acquisition under the most acidic conditions in which the Zrt2 transporter is expressed.
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Stokowa-Sołtys K, Wojtkowiak K, Dzyhovskyi V, Wieczorek R. Effect of Copper(II) Ion Binding by Porin P1 Precursor Fragments from Fusobacterium nucleatum on DNA Degradation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212541. [PMID: 34830424 PMCID: PMC8623562 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusobacterium nucleatum is one of the most notorious species involved in colorectal cancer. It was reported that numerous outer membrane proteins (OMP) are actively involved in carcinogenesis. In this paper, the structure and stability of certain complexes, as well as DNA cleavage and ROS generation by fragments of OMP, were investigated using experimental and theoretical methods. Mass spectrometry, potentiometry, UV-Vis, CD, EPR, gel electrophoresis and calculations at the density functional theory (DFT) level were applied. Two consecutive model peptides, Ac-AKGHEHQLE-NH2 and Ac-FGEHEHGRD-NH2, were studied. Both of these were rendered to form a variety of thermodynamically stable complexes with copper(II) ions. All of the complexes were stabilized, mainly due to interactions of metal with nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms, as well as rich hydrogen bond networks. It was also concluded that these complexes in the presence of hydrogen peroxide or ascorbic acid can effectively produce hydroxyl radicals and have an ability to cleave the DNA strands. Surprisingly, the second studied ligand at the micromolar concentration range causes overall DNA degradation.
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Miller A, Matera-Witkiewicz A, Mikołajczyk A, Wieczorek R, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Chemical "Butterfly Effect" Explaining the Coordination Chemistry and Antimicrobial Properties of Clavanin Complexes. Inorg Chem 2021; 60:12730-12734. [PMID: 34382773 PMCID: PMC8424629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c02101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Can a minor difference in the nonmetal binding sequence of antimicrobial clavanins explain the drastic change in the coordination environment and antimicrobial efficiency? This study answers the question with a definite "yes", showing the details of the bioinorganic chemistry of Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes with clavanins, histidine-rich, antimicrobial peptides from hemocytes of the tunicate Styela clava.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Miller
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Matera-Witkiewicz
- Screening Laboratory of Biological Activity Tests and Collection of Biological Material, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Mikołajczyk
- Screening Laboratory of Biological Activity Tests and Collection of Biological Material, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Robert Wieczorek
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
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Zou X, Liao Y, Yang C, Feng A, Xu X, Jiang H, Li Y. Synthesis, X-ray structures, and biological activity of Zn(II) and cd(II) complexes with pyridine thiazolone derivatives. J COORD CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00958972.2020.1869952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xunzhong Zou
- Guangdong Research Center for Special Functional Building Materials and Its Green Preparation Technology/Foshan Research Center for Special Functional Building Materials and Its Green Preparation Technology, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou, PR China
- Testing & Analysis Center, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yanzhi Liao
- Testing & Analysis Center, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Chaojie Yang
- Testing & Analysis Center, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ansheng Feng
- Guangdong Research Center for Special Functional Building Materials and Its Green Preparation Technology/Foshan Research Center for Special Functional Building Materials and Its Green Preparation Technology, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xiaoyun Xu
- Testing & Analysis Center, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Huifeng Jiang
- Guangdong Research Center for Special Functional Building Materials and Its Green Preparation Technology/Foshan Research Center for Special Functional Building Materials and Its Green Preparation Technology, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yu Li
- Guangdong Research Center for Special Functional Building Materials and Its Green Preparation Technology/Foshan Research Center for Special Functional Building Materials and Its Green Preparation Technology, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou, PR China
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Two metal complex derivatives of pyridine thiazole ligand: synthesis, characterization and biological activity. TRANSIT METAL CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11243-020-00442-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Bellotti D, Rowińska-Żyrek M, Remelli M. Novel insights into the metal binding ability of ZinT periplasmic protein from Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. Dalton Trans 2020; 49:9393-9403. [PMID: 32588863 DOI: 10.1039/d0dt01626h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The ZinT mediated Zn(ii) uptake is one of the major differences in the metabolism of human and bacterial cells that can be challenged when looking for possible highly selective metal-based therapeutics. ZinT is a 216-amino acid periplasmic protein expressed by Gram-negative bacteria, which shuttles Zn(ii) ions to the ZnuABC transporter under zinc-limiting conditions. The suggested metal-binding sites of ZinT correspond to a domain containing three highly conserved histidine residues (His 167, 176 and 178) and to the N-terminal histidine-rich loop HGHHXH (residues 24-29). The coordination chemistry of the ZinT complexes with Zn(ii) and Cu(ii) has been investigated. The present work is focused on the protected peptides Ac-24HGHHSH29-NH2 and Ac-166DHIIAPRKSSHFH178-NH2 as models for the putative metal binding sites of ZinT from Escherichia coli (EcZinT), and Ac-24HGHHAH29-NH2 and Ac-166DHIIAPRKSAHFH178-NH2 from the ZinT protein expressed by Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium (SeZinT). The investigated peptides are able to form stable mono-nuclear complexes where the histidine residues represent the principal metal anchoring sites. The ZnuA (a periplasmic component of the ZnuABC transporter) metal binding site exhibits higher affinity for Zn(ii) than ZinT, suggesting that the interaction of the two proteins through the formation of a binary complex may involve the metal transfer from ZinT to ZnuA. In contrast, this would not occur in Cu(ii), since the ZinT complexes are more stable. Furthermore, at acidic pH, where the antimicrobial peptide calcitermin is biologically active, it also binds the metal ions with higher affinity than ZinT, representing a possible efficient competitor and antagonist of ZinT in the host human organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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Bellotti D, Tocchio C, Guerrini R, Rowińska-Żyrek M, Remelli M. Thermodynamic and spectroscopic study of Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) complexes with the (148–156) peptide fragment of C4YJH2, a putative metal transporter of Candida albicans. Metallomics 2019; 11:1988-1998. [DOI: 10.1039/c9mt00251k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The linker sequence between the two main Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) coordination sites of C4YJH2, a putative metal transporter of Candida albicans, contributes in a non-negligible way to the protein chelating capability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Ferrara
- Ferrara
- Italy
- Faculty of Chemistry
| | - Cinzia Tocchio
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Ferrara
- Ferrara
- Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Ferrara
- Ferrara
- Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Ferrara
- Ferrara
- Italy
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