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Chekan JR, Mydy LS, Pasquale MA, Kersten RD. Plant peptides - redefining an area of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:1020-1059. [PMID: 38411572 PMCID: PMC11253845 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00042g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Covering 1965 to February 2024Plants are prolific peptide chemists and are known to make thousands of different peptidic molecules. These peptides vary dramatically in their size, chemistry, and bioactivity. Despite their differences, all plant peptides to date are biosynthesized as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Decades of research in plant RiPP biosynthesis have extended the definition and scope of RiPPs from microbial sources, establishing paradigms and discovering new families of biosynthetic enzymes. The discovery and elucidation of plant peptide pathways is challenging due to repurposing and evolution of housekeeping genes as both precursor peptides and biosynthetic enzymes and due to the low rates of gene clustering in plants. In this review, we highlight the chemistry, biosynthesis, and function of the known RiPP classes from plants and recommend a nomenclature for the recent addition of BURP-domain-derived RiPPs termed burpitides. Burpitides are an emerging family of cyclic plant RiPPs characterized by macrocyclic crosslinks between tyrosine or tryptophan side chains and other amino acid side chains or their peptide backbone that are formed by copper-dependent BURP-domain-containing proteins termed burpitide cyclases. Finally, we review the discovery of plant RiPPs through bioactivity-guided, structure-guided, and gene-guided approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Chekan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA.
| | - Lisa S Mydy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Michael A Pasquale
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA.
| | - Roland D Kersten
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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2
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Kam A, Loo S, Qiu Y, Liu CF, Tam JP. Ultrafast Biomimetic Oxidative Folding of Cysteine-rich Peptides and Microproteins in Organic Solvents. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202317789. [PMID: 38342764 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202317789] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Disulfides in peptides and proteins are essential for maintaining a properly folded structure. Their oxidative folding is invariably performed in an aqueous-buffered solution. However, this process is often slow and can lead to misfolded products. Here, we report a novel concept and strategy that is bio-inspired to mimic protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) by accelerating disulfide exchange rates many thousand-fold. The proposed strategy termed organic oxidative folding is performed under organic solvents to yield correctly folded cysteine-rich microproteins instantaneously without observable misfolded or dead-end products. Compared to conventional aqueous oxidative folding strategies, enormously large rate accelerations up to 113,200-fold were observed. The feasibility and generality of the organic oxidative folding strategy was successfully demonstrated on 15 cysteine-rich microproteins of different hydrophobicity, lengths (14 to 58 residues), and numbers of disulfides (2 to 5 disulfides), producing the native products in a second and in high yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony Kam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Wuzhong No.111, Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Shining Loo
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- Wisedom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Wuzhong No. 111, Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibo Qiu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - Chuan-Fa Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - James P Tam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
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3
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Loo S, Kam A, Dutta B, Zhang X, Feng N, Sze SK, Liu CF, Wang X, Tam JP. Broad-spectrum ginsentides are principal bioactives in unraveling the cure-all effects of ginseng. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:653-666. [PMID: 38322337 PMCID: PMC10840477 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress and illness connection is complex and involves multiple physiological systems. Panax ginsengs, reputed for their broad-spectrum "cure-all" effect, are widely prescribed to treat stress and related illnesses. However, the identity of ginseng's "cure-all" medicinal compounds that relieve stress remains unresolved. Here, we identify ginsentides as the principal bioactives that coordinate multiple systems to restore homeostasis in response to stress. Ginsentides are disulfide-rich, cell-penetrating and proteolytic-stable microproteins. Using affinity-enrichment mass spectrometry target identification together with in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo validations, we show that highly purified or synthetic ginsentides promote vasorelaxation by producing nitric oxide through endothelial cells via intracellular PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, alleviate α1-adrenergic receptor overactivity by reversing phenylephrine-induced constriction of aorta, decrease monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells via CD166/ESAM/CD40 and inhibit P2Y12 receptors to reduce platelet aggregation. Orally administered ginsentides were effective in animal models to reduce ADP-induced platelet aggregation, to prevent collagen and adrenaline-induced pulmonary thrombosis as well as anti-stress behavior of tail suspension and forced swimming tests in mice. Together, these results strongly suggest that ginsentides are the principal panacea compounds of ginsengs because of their ability to target multiple extra- and intra-cellular proteins to reverse stress-induced damages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shining Loo
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
- Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Antony Kam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Bamaprasad Dutta
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Nan Feng
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Siu Kwan Sze
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
- Department of Health Sciences, Brock University, Niagara Region, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Chuan-Fa Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Xiaoliang Wang
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China
| | - James P. Tam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
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4
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Carrera-Aubesart A, Gallo M, Defaus S, Todorovski T, Andreu D. Topoisomeric Membrane-Active Peptides: A Review of the Last Two Decades. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2451. [PMID: 37896211 PMCID: PMC10610229 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, bioactive peptides have been gaining recognition in various biomedical areas, such as intracellular drug delivery (cell-penetrating peptides, CPPs) or anti-infective action (antimicrobial peptides, AMPs), closely associated to their distinct mode of interaction with biological membranes. Exploiting the interaction of membrane-active peptides with diverse targets (healthy, tumoral, bacterial or parasitic cell membranes) is opening encouraging prospects for peptides in therapeutics. However, ordinary peptides formed by L-amino acids are easily decomposed by proteases in biological fluids. One way to sidestep this limitation is to use topoisomers, namely versions of the peptide made up of D-amino acids in either canonic (enantio) or inverted (retroenantio) sequence. Rearranging peptide sequences in this fashion provides a certain degree of native structure mimicry that, in appropriate contexts, may deliver desirable biological activity while avoiding protease degradation. In this review, we will focus on recent accounts of membrane-active topoisomeric peptides with therapeutic applications as CPP drug delivery vectors, or as antimicrobial and anticancer candidates. We will also discuss the most common modes of interaction of these peptides with their membrane targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Carrera-Aubesart
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.-A.); (M.G.); (S.D.); (T.T.)
| | - Maria Gallo
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.-A.); (M.G.); (S.D.); (T.T.)
| | - Sira Defaus
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.-A.); (M.G.); (S.D.); (T.T.)
| | - Toni Todorovski
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.-A.); (M.G.); (S.D.); (T.T.)
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - David Andreu
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.-A.); (M.G.); (S.D.); (T.T.)
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Dutta B, Loo S, Kam A, Tam JP. Plant-derived cell-penetrating microprotein α-astratide aM1 targets Akt signaling and alleviates insulin resistance. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:293. [PMID: 37715850 PMCID: PMC10505102 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04937-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Insulin-resistant diabetes is a common metabolic disease with serious complications. Treatments directly addressing the underlying molecular mechanisms involving insulin resistance would be desirable. Our laboratory recently identified a proteolytic-resistant cystine-dense microprotein from huáng qí (Astragalus membranaceus) called α-astratide aM1, which shares high sequence homology to leginsulins. Here we show that aM1 is a cell-penetrating insulin mimetic, enters cells by endocytosis, and activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway independent of the insulin receptor leading to translocation of glucose transporter GLUT4 to the cell surface to promote glucose uptake. We also showed that aM1 alters gene expression, suppresses lipid synthesis and uptake, and inhibits intracellular lipid accumulation in myotubes and adipocytes. By reducing intracellular lipid accumulation and preventing lipid-induced, PKCθ-mediated degradation of IRS1/2, aM1 restores glucose uptake to overcome insulin resistance. These findings highlight the potential of aM1 as a lead for developing orally bioavailable insulin mimetics to expand options for treating diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bamaprasad Dutta
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - Shining Loo
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Antony Kam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - James P Tam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore.
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6
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Tam JP, Huang J, Loo S, Li Y, Kam A. Ginsentide-like Coffeetides Isolated from Coffee Waste Are Cell-Penetrating and Metal-Binding Microproteins. Molecules 2023; 28:6556. [PMID: 37764332 PMCID: PMC10538209 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186556] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Coffee processing generates a huge amount of waste that contains many natural products. Here, we report the discovery of a panel of novel cell-penetrating and metal ion-binding microproteins designated coffeetide cC1a-c and cL1-6 from the husk of two popular coffee plants, Coffea canephora and Coffea liberica, respectively. Combining sequence determination and a database search, we show that the prototypic coffeetide cC1a is a 37-residue, eight-cysteine microprotein with a hevein-like cysteine motif, but without a chitin-binding domain. NMR determination of cC1a reveals a compact structure that confers its resistance to heat and proteolytic degradation. Disulfide mapping together with chemical synthesis reveals that cC1a has a ginsentide-like, and not a hevein-like, disulfide connectivity. In addition, transcriptomic analysis showed that the 98-residue micrcoproten-like coffeetide precursor contains a three-domain arrangement, like ginsentide precursors. Molecular modeling, together with experimental validation, revealed a Mg2+ and Fe3+ binding pocket at the N-terminus formed by three glutamic acids. Importantly, cC1a is amphipathic with a continuous stretch of 19 apolar amino acids, which enables its cell penetration to target intracellular proteins, despite being highly negatively charged. Our findings suggest that coffee by-products could provide a source of ginsentide-like bioactive peptides that have the potential to target intracellular proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. Tam
- Synthetic Enzymes and Natural Products Center, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.L.); (A.K.)
| | - Jiayi Huang
- Synthetic Enzymes and Natural Products Center, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.L.); (A.K.)
| | - Shining Loo
- Synthetic Enzymes and Natural Products Center, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.L.); (A.K.)
- Academy of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yimeng Li
- Synthetic Enzymes and Natural Products Center, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.L.); (A.K.)
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Antony Kam
- Synthetic Enzymes and Natural Products Center, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.L.); (A.K.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
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7
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Carvalho A, Domingues I, Carvalho C, Silva AMS, Soares AMVM, Marques CR. In Vitro Antiprotozoal Activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa Extract against a Ciliate Causing High Mortalities in Turbot Aquaculture. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:912. [PMID: 37508344 PMCID: PMC10376481 DOI: 10.3390/biology12070912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Philasterides dicentrarchi is an histophagous parasite that infects flatfish, namely turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), and cause significant losses in aquaculture units. The available measures for P. dicentrarchi control have limited efficiency, and some cause harm to fish. Hence, sustainable and natural control strategies are urgently needed. This study evaluated the in vitro bioactivity of the ethanol extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces on P. dicentrarchi population growth rate (PGR), oxidative stress biomarkers (glutathione-S-transferases (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total glutathione (TG) and catalase (CAT), neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase, AChE), activity and gene expression of proteases as major virulence factors. H. sabdariffa extract inhibited parasite PGR (IC50 = 1.57 mg mL-1), and caused significant changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (LOEC = 0.22 mg mL-1), especially GPx, TG, and CAT. The activity of proteases was also severely inhibited (IC50 = 0.76 mg mL-1), and gene expression of catepsin 90 and leishmanolysin proteases was downregulated. Organic acids and phenolic phytochemicals in hibiscus extract are potentially responsible for the antiprotozoal bioactivity herein determined. Therefore, H. sabdariffa extract can be a promising disease-control alternative against the ciliate proliferation, cellular defense mechanisms and pathogenicity. Still, its applicability in aquaculture settings, and potential effects on farmed fish, should be further elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carvalho
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago University Campus, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Inês Domingues
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago University Campus, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carla Carvalho
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago University Campus, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Artur M S Silva
- Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde (LAQV)-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Santiago University Campus, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago University Campus, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Catarina R Marques
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago University Campus, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Attah FA, Lawal BA, Yusuf AB, Adedeji OJ, Folahan JT, Akhigbe KO, Roy T, Lawal AA, Ogah NB, Olorundare OE, Chamcheu JC. Nutritional and Pharmaceutical Applications of Under-Explored Knottin Peptide-Rich Phytomedicines. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3271. [PMID: 36501311 PMCID: PMC9737898 DOI: 10.3390/plants11233271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Phytomedicines reportedly rich in cystine knot peptides (Knottins) are found in several global diets, food/herbal supplements and functional foods. However, their knottin peptide content has largely been unexplored, notably for their emerging dual potentials at both the food and medicine space. The nutritional roles, biological targets and mechanism(s) of activity of these knotted peptides are largely unknown. Meanwhile, knottins have recently been unveiled as emerging peptide therapeutics and nutraceuticals of primary choice due to their broad spectrum of bioactivity, hyper stability, selective toxicity, impressive selectivity for biomolecular targets, and their bioengineering applications. In addition to their potential dietary benefits, some knottins have displayed desirable limited toxicity to human erythrocytes. In an effort to appraise what has been accomplished, unveil knowledge gaps and explore the future prospects of knottins, an elaborate review of the nutritional and pharmaceutical application of phytomedicines rich in knottins was carried out. Herein, we provide comprehensive data on common dietary and therapeutic knottins, the majority of which are poorly investigated in many food-grade phytomedicines used in different cultures and localities. Findings from this review should stimulate scientific interest to unveil novel dietary knottins and knottin-rich nutraceutical peptide drug candidates/leads with potential for future clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Alfred Attah
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240272, Nigeria
| | - Bilqis Abiola Lawal
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240272, Nigeria
| | - Abdulmalik Babatunde Yusuf
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240272, Nigeria
| | - Oluwakorede Joshua Adedeji
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240272, Nigeria
| | - Joy Temiloluwa Folahan
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana-Monroe, Monroe, LA 71209, USA
| | - Kelvin Oluwafemi Akhigbe
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240272, Nigeria
| | - Tithi Roy
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana-Monroe, Monroe, LA 71209, USA
| | - Azeemat Adeola Lawal
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240272, Nigeria
| | - Ngozi Blessing Ogah
- Department of Biotechnology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki 480101, Nigeria
| | | | - Jean Christopher Chamcheu
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana-Monroe, Monroe, LA 71209, USA
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Loo S, Kam A, Tam JP. Hyperstable EGF-like bleogen derived from cactus accelerates corneal healing in rats. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:942168. [PMID: 36052138 PMCID: PMC9424907 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.942168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal scarring reduces corneal transparency, compromises vision, and is a major cause of vision loss worldwide. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which is the prototypic member of the EGF receptor (EGFR) agonists, is present in tears to provide repair and regeneration. Recently, we discovered bleogen pB1 in the cactus plant Pereskia bleo and showed that it is a non-canonical and hyperstable EGFR agonist with EGF-like wound healing properties for diabetic rats. Here, we apply bleogen pB1 to accelerate corneal wound healing in rats. To assess the corneal healing effects of bleogen pB1, we induced an acute alkali burn to the right eye of male Wistar rats. After five consecutive ophthalmic applications, fluorescein staining and opacity scores of the bleogen pB1-treated, and the positive control EGF-treated groups improved significantly compared to the saline control group. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that infiltrated CD68+ macrophages and the expression of the myofibroblast marker alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were significantly decreased in the bleogen pB1- and the EGF-treated groups. By employing a differential gene expression analysis of bleogen pB1- and EGF-treated keratinocytes through RNA-seq, we demonstrated that bleogen pB1 or EGF treatments can affect the expression of genes associated with inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix remodeling. Taken together, our results indicate that the plant-derived EGFR agonist bleogen pB1 can produce similar effects to those of EGF in accelerating corneal wound healing as well as in reducing persistent inflammation and myofibroblast accumulation in the cornea.
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10
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Loo S, Tay SV, Kam A, Lee W, Tam JP. Hololectin Interdomain Linker Determines Asparaginyl Endopeptidase-Mediated Maturation of Antifungal Hevein-Like Peptides in Oats. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:899740. [PMID: 35620686 PMCID: PMC9127739 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.899740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Heveins and hevein-containing (hev-) lectins play important roles in stress and pathogenic responses in plants but cause health concerns in humans. Hev-hololectins contain multiple modular hev-peptide domains and are abundantly present in cereals and pseudocereals. However, it is unclear why some cereal hev-hololectins are presented as different forms of proteolytically processed proteoforms. Here we show the precursor architectures of hev-hololectins lead to different processing mechanisms to give either hololectins or hevein-like peptides. We used mass spectrometry and datamining to screen hev-peptides from common cereals, and identified from the oat plant Avena sativa nine novel hevein-like peptides, avenatide aV1-aV9. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP) can be responsible for the maturation of the highly homologous avenatides from five oat hev-hololectin precursors, each containing four tandemly repeating, hev-like avenatide domains connected by AEP-susceptible linkers with 13-16 residues in length. Further analysis of cereal hev-hololectins showed that the linker lengths provide a distinguishing feature between their cleavable and non-cleavable precursors, with the cleavables having considerably longer linkers (>13 amino acids) than the non-cleavables (<6 amino acids). A detailed study of avenatide aV1 revealed that it contains eight cysteine residues which form a structurally compact, metabolic-resistant cystine-knotted framework with a well-defined chitin-binding site. Antimicrobial assays showed that avenatide aV1 is anti-fungal and inhibits the growth of phyto-pathogenic fungi. Together, our findings of cleavable and non-cleavable hololectins found in cereals expand our knowledge to their biosynthesis and provide insights for hololectin-related health concerns in human.
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11
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Zorko M, Jones S, Langel Ü. Cell-penetrating peptides in protein mimicry and cancer therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 180:114044. [PMID: 34774552 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Extensive research has been undertaken in the pursuit of anticancer therapeutics. Many anticancer drugs require specificity of delivery to cancer cells, whilst sparing healthy tissue. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), now well established as facilitators of intracellular delivery, have in recent years advanced to incorporate target specificity and thus possess great potential for the targeted delivery of anticancer cargoes. Though none have yet been approved for clinical use, this novel technology has already entered clinical trials. In this review we present CPPs, discuss their classification, mechanisms of cargo internalization and highlight strategies for conjugation to anticancer moieties including their incorporation into therapeutic proteins. As the mainstay of this review, strategies to build specificity into tumor targeting CPP constructs through exploitation of the tumor microenvironment and the use of tumor homing peptides are discussed, whilst acknowledging the extensive contribution made by CPP constructs to target specific protein-protein interactions integral to intracellular signaling pathways associated with tumor cell survival and progression. Finally, antibody/antigen CPP conjugates and their potential roles in cancer immunotherapy and diagnostics are considered. In summary, this review aims to harness the potential of CPP-aided drug delivery for future cancer therapies and diagnostics whilst highlighting some of the most recent achievements in selective delivery of anticancer drugs, including cytostatic drugs, to a range of tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matjaž Zorko
- University of Ljubljana, Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sarah Jones
- University of Wolverhampton, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK.
| | - Ülo Langel
- University of Stockholm, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Svante Arrhenius väg 16, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, Tartu, Estonia 50411, Estonia.
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12
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Anti-Fungal Hevein-like Peptides Biosynthesized from Quinoa Cleavable Hololectins. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26195909. [PMID: 34641455 PMCID: PMC8512870 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitin-binding hevein-like peptides (CB-HLPs) belong to a family of cysteine-rich peptides that play important roles in plant stress and defense mechanisms. CB-HLPs are ribosomally synthesized peptides that are known to be bioprocessed from the following two types of three-domain CB-HLP precursor architectures: cargo-carrying and non-cargo-carrying. Here, we report the identification and characterization of chenotides biosynthesized from the third type of precursors, which are cleavable hololectins of the quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) family. Chenotides are 6-Cys-CB-HLPs of 29–31 amino acids, which have a third type of precursor architecture that encompasses a canonical chitin-binding domain that is involved in chitin binding and anti-fungal activities. Microbroth dilution assays and microscopic analyses showed that chenotides are effective against phyto-pathogenic fungi in the micromolar range. Structure determination revealed that chenotides are cystine knotted and highly compact, which could confer resistance against heat and proteolytic degradation. Importantly, chenotides are connected by a novel 18-residue Gly/Ala-rich linker that is a target for bioprocessing by cathepsin-like endopeptidases. Taken together, our findings reveal that chenotides are a new family of CB-HLPs from quinoa that are synthesized as a single multi-modular unit and bioprocessed to yield individual mature CB-HLPs. Importantly, such precursors constitute a new family of cleavable hololectins. This unusual feature could increase the biosynthetic efficiency of anti-fungal CB-HLPs, to provide an evolutionary advantage for plant survival and reproduction.
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13
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Laurent Q, Martinent R, Lim B, Pham AT, Kato T, López-Andarias J, Sakai N, Matile S. Thiol-Mediated Uptake. JACS AU 2021; 1:710-728. [PMID: 34467328 PMCID: PMC8395643 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This Perspective focuses on thiol-mediated uptake, that is, the entry of substrates into cells enabled by oligochalcogenides or mimics, often disulfides, and inhibited by thiol-reactive agents. A short chronology from the initial observations in 1990 until today is followed by a summary of cell-penetrating poly(disulfide)s (CPDs) and cyclic oligochalcogenides (COCs) as privileged scaffolds in thiol-mediated uptake and inhibitors of thiol-mediated uptake as potential antivirals. In the spirit of a Perspective, the main part brings together topics that possibly could help to explain how thiol-mediated uptake really works. Extreme sulfur chemistry mostly related to COCs and their mimics, cyclic disulfides, thiosulfinates/-onates, diselenolanes, benzopolysulfanes, but also arsenics and Michael acceptors, is viewed in the context of acidity, ring tension, exchange cascades, adaptive networks, exchange affinity columns, molecular walkers, ring-opening polymerizations, and templated polymerizations. Micellar pores (or lipid ion channels) are considered, from cell-penetrating peptides and natural antibiotics to voltage sensors, and a concise gallery of membrane proteins, as possible targets of thiol-mediated uptake, is provided, including CLIC1, a thiol-reactive chloride channel; TMEM16F, a Ca-activated scramblase; EGFR, the epithelial growth factor receptor; and protein-disulfide isomerase, known from HIV entry or the transferrin receptor, a top hit in proteomics and recently identified in the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Laurent
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rémi Martinent
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bumhee Lim
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anh-Tuan Pham
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Takehiro Kato
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Naomi Sakai
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Matile
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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14
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Loo S, Kam A, Li BB, Feng N, Wang X, Tam JP. Discovery of Hyperstable Noncanonical Plant-Derived Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Agonist and Analogs. J Med Chem 2021; 64:7746-7759. [PMID: 34015925 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Here, we report the discovery of the first plant-derived and noncanonical epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agonist, the 36-residue bleogen pB1 from Pereskia bleo of the Cactaceae family. We show that bleogen pB1 is a low-affinity EGFR agonist using a suite of chemical, biochemical, cellular, and animal experiments which include incisor eruption and wound-healing mouse models. A focused positional scanning pB1 library of Ala- and d-amino acid scans yielded a high-affinity pB1 analog, [K29k]pB1, with a 60-fold-improved EGFR affinity and mitogenicity. We show that the potency of [K29k]pB1 and the epidermal growth factor (EGF) is comparable in a diabetic mouse wound-healing model. We also show that both bleogen pB1 and [K29k]pB1 are hyperstable, being >100-fold more stable than EGF against proteolytic degradation. Overall, our discovery of a noncanonical proteolytic-resistant EGFR agonist scaffold could open new avenues for developing wound healing and skin regeneration therapeutics and biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shining Loo
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Antony Kam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Bin Bin Li
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Nan Feng
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiaoliang Wang
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore.,Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, China
| | - James P Tam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
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15
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Identification and characterization of a wolfberry carboxypeptidase inhibitor from Lycium barbarum. Food Chem 2021; 351:129338. [PMID: 33647700 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Hyperstable cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) represent an underexplored superfamily of bioactives in functional foods. An example is wolfberry of the Lycium barbarum family. Previously, we discovered a CRP, designated α-lybatide, from L. barbarum bark. Herein, we report the discovery of β-lybatide, a novel carboxypeptidase inhibitor belonging to a different CRP family from the wolfberry plant. Proteomic and transcriptomic analyses showed that β-lybatide contains 36 amino acids with six cysteine residues. NMR spectroscopy revealed that β-lybatide displays a knottin-like structure that renders it highly resistant to thermal, chemical and enzymatic degradation, conditions important for keeping its structural integrity in gastrointestinal tract. Biochemical assays showed that β-lybatide is a potent carboxypeptidase inhibitor which could contribute to the wolfberry biological activities. Bioinformatics analysis revealed an additional 49 β-lybatide-like plant carboxypeptidase inhibitors. Together, our results show that β-lybatide is the first and the smallest plant-derived hyperstable carboxypeptidase inhibitor discovered from a functional food.
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16
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Odintsova T, Shcherbakova L, Slezina M, Pasechnik T, Kartabaeva B, Istomina E, Dzhavakhiya V. Hevein-Like Antimicrobial Peptides Wamps: Structure-Function Relationship in Antifungal Activity and Sensitization of Plant Pathogenic Fungi to Tebuconazole by WAMP-2-Derived Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7912. [PMID: 33114433 PMCID: PMC7662308 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Keywords: hevein-like antimicrobial peptides; antifungal activity; antifungal determinants; synergy; chemosensitization; tebuconazole; plant pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana Odintsova
- Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Bases of Plant Immunity, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (M.S.); (E.I.)
| | - Larisa Shcherbakova
- All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology, Bolshie Vyazemy, 143050 Moscow, Russia; (T.P.); (B.K.)
| | - Marina Slezina
- Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Bases of Plant Immunity, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (M.S.); (E.I.)
| | - Tatyana Pasechnik
- All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology, Bolshie Vyazemy, 143050 Moscow, Russia; (T.P.); (B.K.)
| | - Bakhyt Kartabaeva
- All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology, Bolshie Vyazemy, 143050 Moscow, Russia; (T.P.); (B.K.)
| | - Ekaterina Istomina
- Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Bases of Plant Immunity, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (M.S.); (E.I.)
| | - Vitaly Dzhavakhiya
- Department of Molecular Biology, All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology, Bolshie Vyazemy, 143050 Moscow, Russia;
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17
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Shahin-Kaleybar B, Niazi A, Afsharifar A, Nematzadeh G, Yousefi R, Retzl B, Hellinger R, Muratspahić E, Gruber CW. Isolation of Cysteine-Rich Peptides from Citrullus colocynthis. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1326. [PMID: 32948080 PMCID: PMC7565491 DOI: 10.3390/biom10091326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The plant Citrullus colocynthis, a member of the squash (Cucurbitaceae) family, has a long history in traditional medicine. Based on the ancient knowledge about the healing properties of herbal preparations, plant-derived small molecules, e.g., salicylic acid, or quinine, have been integral to modern drug discovery. Additionally, many plant families, such as Cucurbitaceae, are known as a rich source for cysteine-rich peptides, which are gaining importance as valuable pharmaceuticals. In this study, we characterized the C. colocynthis peptidome using chemical modification of cysteine residues, and mass shift analysis via matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. We identified the presence of at least 23 cysteine-rich peptides in this plant, and eight novel peptides, named citcol-1 to -8, with a molecular weight between ~3650 and 4160 Da, were purified using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their amino acid sequences were determined by de novo assignment of b- and y-ion series of proteolytic peptide fragments. In silico analysis of citcol peptides revealed a high sequence similarity to trypsin inhibitor peptides from Cucumis sativus, Momordica cochinchinensis, Momordica macrophylla and Momordica sphaeroidea. Using genome/transcriptome mining it was possible to identify precursor sequences of this peptide family in related Cucurbitaceae species that cluster into trypsin inhibitor and antimicrobial peptides. Based on our analysis, the presence or absence of a crucial Arg/Lys residue at the putative P1 position may be used to classify these common cysteine-rich peptides by functional properties. Despite sequence homology and the common classification into the inhibitor cysteine knot family, these peptides appear to have diverse and additional bioactivities yet to be revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Shahin-Kaleybar
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (B.S.-K.); (B.R.); (R.H.); (E.M.)
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz 7144165186, Iran;
| | - Ali Niazi
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz 7144165186, Iran;
| | - Alireza Afsharifar
- Department of Plant Protection, Shiraz University, Shiraz 7144165186, Iran;
| | | | - Reza Yousefi
- Department of Biology, Shiraz University, Shiraz 7194684795, Iran;
| | - Bernhard Retzl
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (B.S.-K.); (B.R.); (R.H.); (E.M.)
| | - Roland Hellinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (B.S.-K.); (B.R.); (R.H.); (E.M.)
| | - Edin Muratspahić
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (B.S.-K.); (B.R.); (R.H.); (E.M.)
| | - Christian W. Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (B.S.-K.); (B.R.); (R.H.); (E.M.)
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