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Wu J, Li R, Shen Y, Zhang X, Wang X, Wang Z, Zhao Y, Huang L, Zhang L, Zhang B. Candida tropicalis oligopeptide transporters assist in the transmembrane transport of the antimicrobial peptide CGA-N9. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 649:101-109. [PMID: 36764112 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.01.083] [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: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Candida tropicalis is often reported as the second or third most common pathogen causing fungal infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted increasing attention for their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and low cytotoxicity. Our previous studies have shown that CGA-N9, a non-membrane-rupturing AMP, crosses the cell membrane to exert anticandidal activity. We speculate that there are some related transporters that assist in the transmembrane transport of CGA-N9. In this study, the relationship between CGA-N9 lethality kinetics and its real-time transmembrane amount in C. tropicalis cells was investigated. The results demonstrated that there was a positive correlation between its candicidal activity and transmembrane amount. A total of 12 oligopeptide transporter (OPT) coding sequences (CDSs) were cloned from C. tropicalis by using the conservative OPT gene sequences of Candida spp. to design primers and were named C. tropicalis OPTs (CtOPTs). The results of RT‒qPCR demonstrated that the expression levels of CtOPT1, CtOPT9 and CtOPT12 were correlated with the CGA-N9 transmembrane amount in a time-dependent manner. The results of molecular docking demonstrated that CtOPT1, CtOPT9 and CtOPT12 interact strongly with CGA-N9. Therefore, CtOPT1, CtOPT9 and CtOPT12 were predicted to assist in the transmembrane transport of the AMP CGA-N9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasha Wu
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Ruifang Li
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China.
| | - Yunpeng Shen
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Xinhui Zhang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Xueqin Wang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Zichao Wang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Yingyuan Zhao
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Liang Huang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Lan Zhang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Beibei Zhang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China.
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Antimicrobial peptides with cell-penetrating activity as prophylactic and treatment drugs. Biosci Rep 2022; 42:231731. [PMID: 36052730 PMCID: PMC9508529 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20221789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Health is fundamental for the development of individuals and evolution of species. In that sense, for human societies is relevant to understand how the human body has developed molecular strategies to maintain health. In the present review, we summarize diverse evidence that support the role of peptides in this endeavor. Of particular interest to the present review are antimicrobial peptides (AMP) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPP). Different experimental evidence indicates that AMP/CPP are able to regulate autophagy, which in turn regulates the immune system response. AMP also assists in the establishment of the microbiota, which in turn is critical for different behavioral and health aspects of humans. Thus, AMP and CPP are multifunctional peptides that regulate two aspects of our bodies that are fundamental to our health: autophagy and microbiota. While it is now clear the multifunctional nature of these peptides, we are still in the early stages of the development of computational strategies aimed to assist experimentalists in identifying selective multifunctional AMP/CPP to control nonhealthy conditions. For instance, both AMP and CPP are computationally characterized as amphipatic and cationic, yet none of these features are relevant to differentiate these peptides from non-AMP or non-CPP. The present review aims to highlight current knowledge that may facilitate the development of AMP’s design tools for preventing or treating illness.
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Wang Q, Pan L, Han Y, Zhou Z. Antimicrobial Mechanisms of Enterocin CHQS Against Candida albicans. Curr Microbiol 2022; 79:191. [PMID: 35552837 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-02878-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen in hospital-acquired infections, which is extremely harmful to health. The increasing fungal infections is requiring the rapid development of novel antifungal agents. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of CHQS, an enterocin isolated from Enterococcus faecalis TG2 against C. albicans was confirmed by the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration, and time-kill curve. Aniline blue and calcofluor white staining methods showed that CHQS remarkably affected β-1,3-glucan and chitin cell wall components and made cell wall more vulnerable. The C. albicans cell wall rupture and intracellular vacuolation were observed by TEM and SEM. Moreover, CHQS induced the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. These results suggested that CHQS might have a complex multi-target antimicrobial mechanism against C. albicans. In addition, the use of CHQS combined with amphotericin B showed synergistic antimicrobial effects against C. albicans. In conclusion, enterocin CHQS, a natural product with antimicrobial effect, might has a bright future for the development of new antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Lei Pan
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Ye Han
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| | - Zhijiang Zhou
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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