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Park G, Yun H, Min HJ, Lee CW. A Novel Dimeric Short Peptide Derived from α-Defensin-Related Rattusin with Improved Antimicrobial and DNA-Binding Activities. Biomolecules 2024; 14:659. [PMID: 38927062 PMCID: PMC11201828 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060659] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rattusin, an α-defensin-related antimicrobial peptide isolated from the small intestine of rats, has been previously characterized through NMR spectroscopy to elucidate its three-dimensional structure, revealing a C2 homodimeric scaffold stabilized by five disulfide bonds. This study aimed to identify the functional region of rattusin by designing and synthesizing various short analogs, subsequently leading to the development of novel peptide-based antibiotics. The analogs, designated as F1, F2, F3, and F4, were constructed based on the three-dimensional configuration of rattusin, among which F2 is the shortest peptide and exhibited superior antimicrobial efficacy compared to the wild-type peptide. The central cysteine residue of F2 prompted an investigation into its potential to form a dimer at neutral pH, which is critical for its antimicrobial function. This activity was abolished upon the substitution of the cysteine residue with serine, indicating the necessity of dimerization for antimicrobial action. Further, we synthesized β-hairpin-like analogs, both parallel and antiparallel, based on the dimeric structure of F2, which maintained comparable antimicrobial potency. In contrast to rattusin, which acts by disrupting bacterial membranes, the F2 dimer binds directly to DNA, as evidenced by fluorescence assays and DNA retardation experiments. Importantly, F2 exhibited negligible cytotoxicity up to 515 μg/mL, assessed via hemolysis and MTT assays, underscoring its potential as a lead compound for novel peptide-based antibiotic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwansik Park
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (G.P.); (H.Y.)
| | - Hyosuk Yun
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (G.P.); (H.Y.)
| | - Hye Jung Min
- Department of Cosmetic Science, Gwangju Women’s University, Gwangju 62396, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul Won Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (G.P.); (H.Y.)
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Wang X, Liao Q, Chen H, Gong G, Siu SWI, Chen Q, Kam H, Ung COL, Cheung KK, Rádis-Baptista G, Wong CTT, Lee SMY. Toxic Peptide From Palythoa caribaeorum Acting on the TRPV1 Channel Prevents Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Epilepsy in Zebrafish Larvae. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:763089. [PMID: 34925021 PMCID: PMC8672801 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.763089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PcActx peptide, identified from the transcriptome of zoantharian Palythoa caribaeorum, was clustered into the phylogeny of analgesic polypeptides from sea anemone Heteractis crispa (known as APHC peptides). APHC peptides were considered as inhibitors of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1). TRPV1 is a calcium-permeable channel expressed in epileptic brain areas, serving as a potential target for preventing epileptic seizures. Through in silico and in vitro analysis, PcActx peptide was shown to be a potential TRPV1 channel blocker. In vivo studies showed that the linear and oxidized PcActx peptides caused concentration-dependent increases in mortality of zebrafish larvae. However, monotreatment with PcActx peptides below the maximum tolerated doses (MTD) did not affect locomotor behavior. Moreover, PcActx peptides (both linear and oxidized forms) could effectively reverse pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure-related behavior in zebrafish larvae and prevent overexpression of c-fos and npas4a at the mRNA level. The excessive production of ROS induced by PTZ was markedly attenuated by both linear and oxidized PcActx peptides. It was also verified that the oxidized PcActx peptide was more effective than the linear one. In particular, oxidized PcActx peptide notably modulated the mRNA expression of genes involved in calcium signaling and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic-glutamatergic signaling, including calb1, calb2, gabra1, grm1, gria1b, grin2b, gat1, slc1a2b, gad1b, and glsa. Taken together, PcActx peptide, as a novel neuroactive peptide, exhibits prominent anti-epileptic activity, probably through modulating calcium signaling and GABAergic-glutamatergic signaling, and is a promising candidate for epilepsy management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Qiwen Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.,School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hanbin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Guiyi Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Shirley Weng In Siu
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Qian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Hiotong Kam
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Carolina Oi Lam Ung
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Kwok-Kuen Cheung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gandhi Rádis-Baptista
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Institute for Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Clarence Tsun Ting Wong
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Simon Ming-Yuen Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
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Pyroglutamyl leucine, a peptide in fermented foods, attenuates dysbiosis by increasing host antimicrobial peptide. NPJ Sci Food 2019; 3:18. [PMID: 31602398 PMCID: PMC6779755 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-019-0050-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PyroGlu-Leu is present in certain food protein hydrolysates and traditional Japanese fermented foods. Our previous study demonstrated that the oral administration of pyroGlu-Leu (0.1 mg/kg body weight) attenuates dysbiosis in mice with experimental colitis. The objective of this study was to elucidate why such a low dose of pyroGlu-Leu attenuates dysbiosis in different animal models. High fat diet extensively increased the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes in feces of rats compared to control diet. Oral administration of pyroGlu-Leu (1 mg/kg body weight) significantly attenuated high fat diet-induced dysbiosis. By focusing on the production of intestinal antimicrobial peptides, we found that pyroGlu-Leu significantly increased the level of 4962 Da peptides, which identified as the propeptide of rattusin or defensin alpha 9, in ileum. We also observed increased tryptic fragment peptides from rattusin in the lumen. Here, we report that orally administered pyroGlu-Leu attenuates dysbiosis by increasing in the host antimicrobial peptide, rattusin.
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Combined transcriptomic and proteomic analysis reveals a diversity of venom-related and toxin-like peptides expressed in the mat anemone Zoanthus natalensis (Cnidaria, Hexacorallia). Arch Toxicol 2019; 93:1745-1767. [PMID: 31203412 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-019-02456-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Venoms from marine animals have been recognized as a new emerging source of peptide-based therapeutics. Several peptide toxins from sea anemone have been investigated as therapeutic leads or pharmacological tools. Venom complexity should be further highlighted using combined strategies of large-scale sequencing and data analysis which integrated transcriptomics and proteomics to elucidate new proteins or peptides to be compared among species. In this work, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were combined to identify six groups of expressed peptide toxins in Zoanthus natalensis. These include neurotoxin, hemostatic and hemorrhagic toxin, protease inhibitor, mixed function enzymes, venom auxiliary proteins, allergen peptides, and peptides related to the innate immunity. Molecular docking analysis indicated that one expressed Zoanthus Kunitz-like peptide, ZoaKuz1, could be a voltage-gated potassium channels blocker and, hence, it was selected for functional studies. Functional bioassays revealed that ZoaKuz1 has an intrinsic neuroprotective activity in zebrafish model of Parkinson's disease. Since pharmacological blockade of KV channels is known to induce neuroprotective effects, ZoaKuz1 holds the potential to be developed in a therapeutic tool to control neural dysfunction by slowing or even halting neurodegeneration mediated by ion-channel hyperactivity.
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Genome-wide analysis of the ovodefensin gene family: Monophyletic origin, independent gene duplication and presence of different selection patterns. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 68:265-272. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Ji S, Yun H, Park G, Min HJ, Lee CW. Expression and characterization of recombinant rattusin, an α-defensin-related peptide with a homodimeric scaffold formed by intermolecular disulfide exchanges. Protein Expr Purif 2018; 147:17-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Kozic M, Fox SJ, Thomas JM, Verma CS, Rigden DJ. Large scale ab initio modeling of structurally uncharacterized antimicrobial peptides reveals known and novel folds. Proteins 2018; 86:548-565. [DOI: 10.1002/prot.25473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mara Kozic
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool; Liverpool L69 7ZB U.K
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Bioinformatics Institute; Singapore
| | - Stephen J. Fox
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Bioinformatics Institute; Singapore
| | - Jens M. Thomas
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool; Liverpool L69 7ZB U.K
| | - Chandra S. Verma
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Bioinformatics Institute; Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences; National University of Singapore; Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences; Nanyang Technological University; Singapore
| | - Daniel J. Rigden
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool; Liverpool L69 7ZB U.K
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Min HJ, Yun H, Ji S, Rajasekaran G, Kim JI, Kim JS, Shin SY, Lee CW. Rattusin structure reveals a novel defensin scaffold formed by intermolecular disulfide exchanges. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45282. [PMID: 28345637 PMCID: PMC5366907 DOI: 10.1038/srep45282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Defensin peptides are essential for innate immunity in humans and other living systems, as they provide protection against infectious pathogens and regulate the immune response. Here, we report the solution structure of rattusin (RTSN), an α-defensin-related peptide, which revealed a novel C2-symmetric disulfide-linked dimeric structure. RTSN was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and refolded by air oxidation in vitro. Dimerization of the refolded RTSN (r-RTSN) resulted from five intermolecular disulfide (SS) bond exchanges formed by ten cysteines within two protomer chains. The SS bond pairings of r-RTSN were determined by mass analysis of peptide fragments cleaved by trypsin digestion. In addition to mass analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments for a C15S mutant and r-RTSN confirmed that the intermolecular SS bond structure of r-RTSN showed an I-V', II-IV', III-III', IV-II', V-I' arrangement. The overall structure of r-RTSN exhibited a cylindrical array, similar to that of β-sandwich folds, with a highly basic surface. Furthermore, fluorescence spectroscopy results suggest that r-RTSN exerts bactericidal activity by damaging membrane integrity. Collectively, these results provide a novel structural scaffold for designing highly potent peptide-based antibiotics suitable for use under various physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Jung Min
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea.,Department of Pharmaceutical Cosmetics, Kwangju Women's University, Gwangju 62396, South Korea
| | - Hyosuk Yun
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea
| | - Sehyeon Ji
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea
| | - Ganesan Rajasekaran
- Department of Medical Science, Graduate School and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, South Korea
| | - Jae Il Kim
- Department of Life Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Sun Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea
| | - Song Yub Shin
- Department of Medical Science, Graduate School and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, South Korea
| | - Chul Won Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea
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Characterization of the antimicrobial peptide family defensins in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), and tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). Immunogenetics 2016; 69:133-143. [PMID: 27838759 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-016-0959-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Defensins comprise a family of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides with important roles in innate and adaptive immune defense in vertebrates. We characterized alpha and beta defensin genes in three Australian marsupials: the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), and tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) and identified 48, 34, and 39 defensins, respectively. One hundred and twelve have the classical antimicrobial peptides characteristics required for pathogen membrane targeting, including cationic charge (between 1+ and 15+) and a high proportion of hydrophobic residues (>30%). Phylogenetic analysis shows that gene duplication has driven unique and species-specific expansions of devil, koala, and tammar wallaby beta defensins and devil alpha defensins. Defensin genes are arranged in three genomic clusters in marsupials, whereas further duplications and translocations have occurred in eutherians resulting in four and five gene clusters in mice and humans, respectively. Marsupial defensins are generally under purifying selection, particularly residues essential for defensin structural stability. Certain hydrophobic or positively charged sites, predominantly found in the defensin loop, are positively selected, which may have functional significance in defensin-target interaction and membrane insertion.
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Avian antimicrobial host defense peptides: from biology to therapeutic applications. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2014; 7:220-47. [PMID: 24583933 PMCID: PMC3978490 DOI: 10.3390/ph7030220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Revised: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Host defense peptides (HDPs) are an important first line of defense with antimicrobial and immunomoduatory properties. Because they act on the microbial membranes or host immune cells, HDPs pose a low risk of triggering microbial resistance and therefore, are being actively investigated as a novel class of antimicrobials and vaccine adjuvants. Cathelicidins and β-defensins are two major families of HDPs in avian species. More than a dozen HDPs exist in birds, with the genes in each HDP family clustered in a single chromosomal segment, apparently as a result of gene duplication and diversification. In contrast to their mammalian counterparts that adopt various spatial conformations, mature avian cathelicidins are mostly α-helical. Avian β-defensins, on the other hand, adopt triple-stranded β-sheet structures similar to their mammalian relatives. Besides classical β-defensins, a group of avian-specific β-defensin-related peptides, namely ovodefensins, exist with a different six-cysteine motif. Like their mammalian counterparts, avian cathelicidins and defensins are derived from either myeloid or epithelial origin expressed in a majority of tissues with broad-spectrum antibacterial and immune regulatory activities. Structure-function relationship studies with several avian HDPs have led to identification of the peptide analogs with potential for use as antimicrobials and vaccine adjuvants. Dietary modulation of endogenous HDP synthesis has also emerged as a promising alternative approach to disease control and prevention in chickens.
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