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Andrés MT, Yount NY, Acosta-Zaldívar M, Yeaman MR, Fierro JF. The Archetypal Gamma-Core Motif of Antimicrobial Cys-Rich Peptides Inhibits H +-ATPases in Target Pathogens. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9672. [PMID: 39273619 PMCID: PMC11395145 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179672] [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: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Human lactoferrin (hLf) is an innate host defense protein that inhibits microbial H+-ATPases. This protein includes an ancestral structural motif (i.e., γ-core motif) intimately associated with the antimicrobial activity of many natural Cys-rich peptides. Peptides containing a complete γ-core motif from hLf or other phylogenetically diverse antimicrobial peptides (i.e., afnA, SolyC, PA1b, PvD1, thanatin) showed microbicidal activity with similar features to those previously reported for hLf and defensins. Common mechanistic characteristics included (1) cell death independent of plasma membrane (PM) lysis, (2) loss of intracellular K+ (mediated by Tok1p K+ channels in yeast), (3) inhibition of microbicidal activity by high extracellular K+, (4) influence of cellular respiration on microbicidal activity, (5) involvement of mitochondrial ATP synthase in yeast cell death processes, and (6) increment of intracellular ATP. Similar features were also observed with the BM2 peptide, a fungal PM H+-ATPase inhibitor. Collectively, these findings suggest host defense peptides containing a homologous γ-core motif inhibit PM H+-ATPases. Based on this discovery, we propose that the γ-core motif is an archetypal effector involved in the inhibition of PM H+-ATPases across kingdoms of life and contributes to the in vitro microbicidal activity of Cys-rich antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- María T Andrés
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiology (LMO), Clinical University of Odontology (CLUO), University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- SamerLabs SL, Asturias Technology Park, 33428 Llanera, Asturias, Spain
| | - Nannette Y Yount
- Divisions of Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles County (LAC)-Harbor University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
- Institute for Infection & Immunity, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor UCLA, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - Maikel Acosta-Zaldívar
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiology (LMO), Clinical University of Odontology (CLUO), University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Michael R Yeaman
- Divisions of Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles County (LAC)-Harbor University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
- Institute for Infection & Immunity, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor UCLA, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - José F Fierro
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiology (LMO), Clinical University of Odontology (CLUO), University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- Department of Functional Biology (Microbiology), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
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Istomina EA, Korostyleva TV, Kovtun AS, Slezina MP, Odintsova TI. Transcriptome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Genes Encoding Defense-Related Peptides of Filipendula ulmaria in Response to Bipolaris sorokiniana Infection. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:258. [PMID: 38667929 PMCID: PMC11050963 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040258] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptides play an essential role in plant development and immunity. Filipendula ulmaria, belonging to the Rosaceae family, is a medicinal plant which exhibits valuable pharmacological properties. F. ulmaria extracts in vitro inhibit the growth of a variety of plant and human pathogens. The role of peptides in defense against pathogens in F. ulmaria remains unknown. The objective of this study was to explore the repertoire of antimicrobial (AMPs) and defense-related signaling peptide genes expressed by F. ulmaria in response to infection with Bipolaris sorokiniana using RNA-seq. Transcriptomes of healthy and infected plants at two time points were sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq500 platform and de novo assembled. A total of 84 peptide genes encoding novel putative AMPs and signaling peptides were predicted in F. ulmaria transcriptomes. They belong to known, as well as new, peptide families. Transcriptional profiling in response to infection disclosed complex expression patterns of peptide genes and identified both up- and down-regulated genes in each family. Among the differentially expressed genes, the vast majority were down-regulated, suggesting suppression of the immune response by the fungus. The expression of 13 peptide genes was up-regulated, indicating their possible involvement in triggering defense response. After functional studies, the encoded peptides can be used in the development of novel biofungicides and resistance inducers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina A. Istomina
- Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Bases of Plant Immunity, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.I.); (T.V.K.); (M.P.S.)
| | - Tatyana V. Korostyleva
- Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Bases of Plant Immunity, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.I.); (T.V.K.); (M.P.S.)
| | - Alexey S. Kovtun
- Laboratory of Bacterial Genetics, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Marina P. Slezina
- Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Bases of Plant Immunity, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.I.); (T.V.K.); (M.P.S.)
| | - Tatyana I. Odintsova
- Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Bases of Plant Immunity, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.I.); (T.V.K.); (M.P.S.)
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Satchanska G, Davidova S, Gergova A. Diversity and Mechanisms of Action of Plant, Animal, and Human Antimicrobial Peptides. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:202. [PMID: 38534637 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13030202] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are usually made up of fewer than 100 amino acid residues. They are found in many living organisms and are an important factor in those organisms' innate immune systems. AMPs can be extracted from various living sources, including bacteria, plants, animals, and even humans. They are usually cationic peptides with an amphiphilic structure, which allows them to easily bind and interact with the cellular membranes of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens. They can act against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens and have various modes of action against them. Some attack the pathogens' membranes, while others target their intracellular organelles, as well as their nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolic pathways. A crucial area of AMP use is related to their ability to help with emerging antibiotic resistance: some AMPs are active against resistant strains and are susceptible to peptide engineering. This review considers AMPs from three key sources-plants, animals, and humans-as well as their modes of action and some AMP sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Satchanska
- BioLaboratory-MF-NBU, Department of Natural Sciences, New Bulgarian University, 1618 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Slavena Davidova
- BioLaboratory-MF-NBU, Department of Natural Sciences, New Bulgarian University, 1618 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Alexandra Gergova
- BioLaboratory-MF-NBU, Department of Natural Sciences, New Bulgarian University, 1618 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Efremenko E, Aslanli A, Stepanov N, Senko O, Maslova O. Various Biomimetics, Including Peptides as Antifungals. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:513. [PMID: 37999154 PMCID: PMC10669293 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8070513] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomimetics, which are similar to natural compounds that play an important role in the metabolism, manifestation of functional activity and reproduction of various fungi, have a pronounced attraction in the current search for new effective antifungals. Actual trends in the development of this area of research indicate that unnatural amino acids can be used as such biomimetics, including those containing halogen atoms; compounds similar to nitrogenous bases embedded in the nucleic acids synthesized by fungi; peptides imitating fungal analogs; molecules similar to natural substrates of numerous fungal enzymes and quorum-sensing signaling molecules of fungi and yeast, etc. Most parts of this review are devoted to the analysis of semi-synthetic and synthetic antifungal peptides and their targets of action. This review is aimed at combining and systematizing the current scientific information accumulating in this area of research, developing various antifungals with an assessment of the effectiveness of the created biomimetics and the possibility of combining them with other antimicrobial substances to reduce cell resistance and improve antifungal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Efremenko
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lenin Hills 1/3, Moscow 119991, Russia
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Slezina MP, Istomina EA, Korostyleva TV, Odintsova TI. The γ-Core Motif Peptides of Plant AMPs as Novel Antimicrobials for Medicine and Agriculture. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010483. [PMID: 36613926 PMCID: PMC9820530 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The γ-core motif is a structural element shared by most host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which is supposed to contribute to their antimicrobial properties. In this review, we summarized the available data on the γ-core peptides of plant AMPs. We describe γ-core peptides that have been shown to exhibit inhibitory activity against plant and human bacterial and fungal pathogens that make them attractive scaffolds for the development of novel anti-infective agents. Their advantages include origin from natural AMP sequences, broad-spectrum and potent inhibitory activity, and cost-effective production. In addition, some γ-core peptides combine antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions, thus broadening the spectrum of practical applications. Some act synergistically with antimycotics and fungicides, so combinations of peptides with conventionally used antifungal agents can be suggested as an effective strategy to reduce the doses of potentially harmful chemicals. The presented information will pave the way for the design of novel antimicrobials on the basis of γ-core motif peptides, which can find application in medicine and the protection of crops from diseases.
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Hassan M, Flanagan TW, Kharouf N, Bertsch C, Mancino D, Haikel Y. Antimicrobial Proteins: Structure, Molecular Action, and Therapeutic Potential. Pharmaceutics 2022; 15:pharmaceutics15010072. [PMID: 36678702 PMCID: PMC9864823 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010072] [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: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Second- and third-line treatments of patients with antibiotic-resistant infections can have serious side effects, such as organ failure with prolonged care and recovery. As clinical practices such as cancer therapies, chronic disease treatment, and organ transplantation rely on the ability of available antibiotics to fight infection, the increased resistance of microbial pathogens presents a multifaceted, serious public health concern worldwide. The pipeline of traditional antibiotics is exhausted and unable to overcome the continuously developing multi-drug resistance. To that end, the widely observed limitation of clinically utilized antibiotics has prompted researchers to find a clinically relevant alternate antimicrobial strategy. In recent decades, the discovery of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as an excellent candidate to overcome antibiotic resistance has received further attention, particularly from scientists, health professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry. Effective AMPs are characterized by a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities, high pathogen specificity, and low toxicity. In addition to their antimicrobial activity, AMPs have been found to be involved in a variety of biological functions, including immune regulation, angiogenesis, wound healing, and antitumor activity. This review provides a current overview of the structure, molecular action, and therapeutic potential of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Hassan
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Strasbourg University, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, INSERM UMR_S 1121, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Research Laboratory of Surgery-Oncology, Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-504-339-2671
| | - Thomas W. Flanagan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Naji Kharouf
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Strasbourg University, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, INSERM UMR_S 1121, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Christelle Bertsch
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Strasbourg University, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, INSERM UMR_S 1121, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Davide Mancino
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Strasbourg University, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, INSERM UMR_S 1121, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Youssef Haikel
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Strasbourg University, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, INSERM UMR_S 1121, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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Histidine 19 Residue Is Essential for Cell Internalization of Antifungal Peptide SmAPα1-21 Derived from the α-Core of the Silybum marianum Defensin DefSm2-D in Fusarium graminearum. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11111501. [PMID: 36358156 PMCID: PMC9686561 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthetic peptide SmAPα1-21 (KLCEKPSKTWFGNCGNPRHCG) derived from DefSm2-D defensin α-core is active at micromolar concentrations against the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum and has a multistep mechanism of action that includes alteration of the fungal cell wall and membrane permeabilization. Here, we continued the study of this peptide’s mode of action and explored the correlation between the biological activity and its primary structure. Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the ultrastructural effects of SmAPα1-21 in conidial cells. New peptides were designed by modifying the parent peptide SmAPα1-21 (SmAPH19R and SmAPH19A, where His19 was replaced by Arg or Ala, respectively) and synthesized by the Fmoc solid phase method. Antifungal activity was determined against F. graminearum. Membrane permeability and subcellular localization in conidia were studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was assessed by fluorescence spectroscopy and CLSM. SmAPα1-21 induced peroxisome biogenesis and oxidative stress through ROS production in F. graminearum and was internalized into the conidial cells’ cytoplasm. SmAPH19R and SmAPH19A were active against F. graminearum with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 38 and 100 µM for SmAPH19R and SmAPH19A, respectively. The replacement of His19 by Ala produced a decrease in the net charge with a significant increase in the MIC, thus evidencing the importance of the positive charge in position 19 of the antifungal peptide. Like SmAPα1-21, SmAP2H19A and SmAP2H19R produced the permeabilization of the conidia membrane and induced oxidative stress through ROS production. However, SmAPH19R and SmAPH19A were localized in the conidia cell wall. The replacement of His19 by Ala turned all the processes slower. The extracellular localization of peptides SmAPH19R and SmAPH19A highlights the role of the His19 residue in the internalization.
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Slezina MP, Istomina EA, Kulakovskaya EV, Korostyleva TV, Odintsova TI. The γ-Core Motif Peptides of AMPs from Grasses Display Inhibitory Activity against Human and Plant Pathogens. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158383. [PMID: 35955519 PMCID: PMC9368981 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute an essential part of the plant immune system. They are regarded as alternatives to conventional antibiotics and pesticides. In this study, we have identified the γ-core motifs, which are associated with antimicrobial activity, in 18 AMPs from grasses and assayed their antimicrobial properties against nine pathogens, including yeasts affecting humans, as well as plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi. All the tested peptides displayed antimicrobial properties. We discovered a number of short AMP-derived peptides with high antimicrobial activity both against human and plant pathogens. For the first time, antimicrobial activity was revealed in the peptides designed from the 4-Cys-containing defensin-like peptides, whose role in plant immunity has remained unknown, as well as the knottin-like peptide and the C-terminal prodomain of the thionin, which points to the direct involvement of these peptides in defense mechanisms. Studies of the mode of action of the eight most active γ-core motif peptides on yeast cells using staining with propidium iodide showed that all of them induced membrane permeabilization leading to cell lysis. In addition to identification of the antimicrobial determinants in plant AMPs, this work provides short candidate peptide molecules for the development of novel drugs effective against opportunistic fungal infections and biopesticides to control plant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina P. Slezina
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.S.); (E.A.I.); (T.V.K.)
| | - Ekaterina A. Istomina
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.S.); (E.A.I.); (T.V.K.)
| | - Ekaterina V. Kulakovskaya
- Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia;
| | - Tatyana V. Korostyleva
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.S.); (E.A.I.); (T.V.K.)
| | - Tatyana I. Odintsova
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.S.); (E.A.I.); (T.V.K.)
- Correspondence:
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