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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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Cai Y, Wang X, Zhang T, Yan A, Luo L, Li C, Tian G, Wu Z, Wang X, Shen D, Han Y, Zhang Z. Rational Design of a Potent Antimicrobial Peptide Based on the Active Region of a Gecko Cathelicidin. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:951-960. [PMID: 38315114 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00575] [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: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria presents a significant challenge to public health, increasing the risk of infections that are resistant to current antibiotic treatment. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics in the prevention of MDR bacterial infections. In the present study, we identified a novel cathelicidin AMP from Gekko japonicus, which exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 2.34 to 4.69 μg/mL. To improve its potential therapeutic application, a series of peptides was synthesized based on the active region of the gecko-derived cathelicidin. The lead peptide (RH-16) showed an antimicrobial activity comparable to that of the parent peptide. Structural characterization revealed that RH-16 adopted an amphipathic α-helical conformation. Furthermore, RH-16 demonstrated neither hemolytic nor cytotoxic activity but effectively killed a wide range of clinically isolated, drug-resistant bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of RH-16 was attributed to the nonspecific targeting of bacterial membranes, leading to rapid bacterial membrane permeabilization and rupture. RH-16 also retained its antibacterial activity in plasma and exhibited mild toxicity in vivo. Notably, RH-16 offered robust protection against skin infection in a murine model. Therefore, this newly identified cathelicidin AMP may be a strong candidate for future pharmacological development targeting multidrug resistance. The use of a rational design approach for isolating the minimal antimicrobial unit may accelerate the transition of natural AMPs to clinically applicable antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cai
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Xingyu Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - An Yan
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Lin Luo
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital), Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Chenxi Li
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital), Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Gengzhou Tian
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Zhongxiang Wu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Dong Shen
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Yajun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Zhiye Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
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