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Zaatouf L, Kumar K, Marcotte I, Warschawski DE. Assessment of membrane labelling mechanisms with exogenous fatty acids and detergents in bacteria. Biochimie 2024:S0300-9084(24)00134-2. [PMID: 38825063 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Labelling of bacterial membranes using exogenous fatty acids has proven to be a valuable tool to investigate molecular interactions by in-cell solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy, notably with antimicrobial peptides. However, the mechanism by which this labelling takes place in non-mutated bacteria has not yet been investigated. In this work, we propose a rapid method to assess the fate of the fatty acids during the labelling of bacteria, involving two different methylation schemes and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. We applied this approach to Gram(+) and Gram(-) bacteria grown with deuterated palmitic acid under different conditions. We assessed the extent of labelling, then the resulting membrane rigidity by 2H ssNMR. Our results reveal that the labelling mechanism depends on the detergent used to micellize the fatty acids. This labelling can be either active or passive, whether the fatty acids are metabolized and used in the phospholipids biosynthesis, or remain unmodified in the membrane. We discuss the best labelling protocol for studying peptide-membrane interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Zaatouf
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, CNRS UMR 7203, Sorbonne Université, École normale supérieure, PSL University, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Kiran Kumar
- Departement of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Downtown Station, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Isabelle Marcotte
- Departement of Chemistry, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Downtown Station, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Dror E Warschawski
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, CNRS UMR 7203, Sorbonne Université, École normale supérieure, PSL University, 75005, Paris, France.
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2
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Sani MA, Rajput S, Keizer DW, Separovic F. NMR techniques for investigating antimicrobial peptides in model membranes and bacterial cells. Methods 2024; 224:10-20. [PMID: 38295893 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.01.012] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
AMPs are short, mainly cationic membrane-active peptides found in all living organism. They perform diverse roles including signaling and acting as a line of defense against bacterial infections. AMPs have been extensively investigated as templates to facilitate the development of novel antimicrobial therapeutics. Understanding the interplay between these membrane-active peptides and the lipid membranes is considered to be a significant step in elucidating the specific mechanism of action of AMPs against prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to aid the development of new therapeutics. In this review, we have provided a brief overview of various NMR techniques commonly used for studying AMP structure and AMP-membrane interactions in model membranes and whole cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Antoine Sani
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Sunnia Rajput
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - David W Keizer
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Frances Separovic
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
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3
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Mohamadzadeh M, Ghiasi M, Aghamollaei H. Optimization of plasmid electrotransformation into Bacillus subtilis using an antibacterial peptide. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:116. [PMID: 38388903 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-03847-2] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis can potentially serve as an efficient expression host for biotechnology due to its ability to secrete extracellular proteins and enzymes directly into the culture medium. One of the important challenges in the biotechnology industry is to optimize the transformation conditions of B. subtilis bacteria. This study aims to provide a new method to optimize the transformation conditions and improve the transformation efficiency of B. subtilis WB600. To increase the transformation efficiency in B. subtilis, two methods of adding CM11 antibacterial peptides to the bacterial medium along with electroporation and optimizing the variables including the growth medium composition, time to adding CM11 peptide, electroporation voltage, recovery medium, and cell recovery time are used. The results of this study showed that the addition of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with a concentration of 2 μg/ml increases the transformation efficiency by 4 times compared to the absence of AMP in the bacterial medium. Additionally, the findings from our study indicated that the most optimal rate of transformation for B. subtilis was observed at a voltage of 7.5 kV/cm, with a recovery period of 12 h. With the optimized method, the transformation efficiency came up to 1.69 × 104 CFU/µg DNA. This improvement in transformation efficiency will be attributed to the research of expression of exogenous genes in B. subtilis, gene library construction for transformation of wild-type B. subtilis strains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohsen Ghiasi
- Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Aghamollaei
- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Karal MAS, Billah MM, Ahmed M, Ahamed MK. A review on the measurement of the bending rigidity of lipid membranes. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:8285-8304. [PMID: 37873600 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00882g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the latest developments in both experimental and simulation techniques used to assess the bending rigidity of lipid membranes. It places special emphasis on experimental methods that utilize model vesicles to manipulate lipid compositions and other experimental parameters to determine the bending rigidity of the membrane. It also describes two commonly used simulation methods for estimating bending rigidity. The impact of various factors on membrane bending rigidity is summarized, including cholesterol, lipids, salt concentration, surface charge, membrane phase state, peptides, proteins, and polyethylene glycol. These factors are shown to influence the bending rigidity, contributing to a better understanding of the biophysical properties of membranes and their role in biological processes. Furthermore, the review discusses future directions and potential advancements in this research field, highlighting areas where further investigation is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Abu Sayem Karal
- Department of Physics, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - Md Masum Billah
- Department of Physics, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh
| | - Marzuk Ahmed
- Integrated Bioscience Section, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Md Kabir Ahamed
- Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety Division, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, Agargaon, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
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Gori A, Lodigiani G, Colombarolli SG, Bergamaschi G, Vitali A. Cell Penetrating Peptides: Classification, Mechanisms, Methods of Study, and Applications. ChemMedChem 2023; 18:e202300236. [PMID: 37389978 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) encompass a class of peptides that possess the remarkable ability to cross cell membranes and deliver various types of cargoes, including drugs, nucleic acids, and proteins, into cells. For this reason, CPPs are largely investigated in drug delivery applications in the context of many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and genetic disorders. While sharing this functionality and some common structural features, such as a high content of positively charged amino acids, CPPs represent an extremely diverse group of elements, which can differentiate under many aspects. In this review, we summarize the most common characteristics of CPPs, introduce their main distinctive features, mechanistic aspects that drive their function, and outline the most widely used techniques for their structural and functional studies. We highlight current gaps and future perspectives in this field, which have the potential to significantly impact the future field of drug delivery and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Gori
- SCITEC - Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", National Research Council of Italy, Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131, Milano, Italy
| | - Giulia Lodigiani
- SCITEC - Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", National Research Council of Italy, Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131, Milano, Italy
| | - Stella G Colombarolli
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", National Research Council of Italy, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Greta Bergamaschi
- SCITEC - Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", National Research Council of Italy, Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Vitali
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", National Research Council of Italy, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168, Roma, Italy
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Abe Y, Honda M. A Novel Control Method of Enterococcus faecalis by Co-Treatment with Protamine and Calcium Hydroxide. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1629. [PMID: 37376077 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), a gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium, is likely to survive root canal treatment because of its extremely high alkaline tolerance, which may contribute to the refractory nature of apical periodontitis (AP). In this study, protamine was combined with calcium hydroxide to evaluate its efficacy in killing E. faecalis. First, the antibacterial activity of protamine against E. faecalis was investigated. Protamine reduced the E. faecalis growth rate at concentrations above the MIC (250 μg/mL), but was not bactericidal at any of the concentrations tested. Next, we investigated the calcium hydroxide tolerance of E. faecalis, using a 10% 310 medium, adjusted for pH by adding a calcium hydroxide solution. The results showed that E. faecalis could survive and proliferate in alkaline environments up to pH 10. However, the complete killing of E. faecalis was observed when protamine (250 μg/mL) was added. In addition, compared with treatment with protamine and calcium hydroxide alone, membrane damage and internalization of protamine into the cytoplasm of E. faecalis were enhanced. Therefore, the synergistic increase in antibacterial activity may be related to the action of both antimicrobial agents on the cell membrane. In conclusion, co-treatment with protamine and calcium hydroxide seems to be very effective in sterilizing E. faecalis, and has the potential to provide a novel control method against E. faecalis for root canal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Abe
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, 1-1-1, Higashimita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki 214-8571, Japan
| | - Michiyo Honda
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, 1-1-1, Higashimita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki 214-8571, Japan
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Mba IE, Nweze EI. Antimicrobial Peptides Therapy: An Emerging Alternative for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria. THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2022; 95:445-463. [PMID: 36568838 PMCID: PMC9765339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Microbial resistance to antibiotics is an ancient and dynamic issue that has brought a situation reminiscent of the pre-antibiotic era to the limelight. Currently, antibiotic resistance and the associated infections are widespread and pose significant global health and economic burden. Thus, the misuse of antibiotics, which has increased resistance, has necessitated the search for alternative therapeutic agents for combating resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) hold promise as a viable therapeutic approach against drug-resistant pathogens. AMPs are oligopeptides with low molecular weight. They have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities against pathogenic microorganisms. AMPs are nonspecific and target components of microbes that facilitate immune response by acting as the first-line defense mechanisms against invading pathogenic microbes. The diversity and potency of AMPs make them good candidates for alternative use. They could be used alone or in combination with several other biomaterials for improved therapeutic activity. They can also be employed in vaccine production targeting drug-resistant pathogens. This review covers the opportunities and advances in AMP discovery and development targeting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacteria. Briefly, it presents an overview of the global burden of the antimicrobial resistance crisis, portraying the global magnitude, challenges, and consequences. After that, it critically and comprehensively evaluates the potential roles of AMPs in addressing the AMR crisis, highlighting the major potentials and prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emeka Innocent Nweze
- To whom all correspondence should be addressed:
Prof. Emeka Nweze, MSc, PhD, MPH, Department of Microbiology, University of
Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; ; ORCID:
https://www.orcid.org/0000-0003-4432-0885
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Antimicrobial Peptides in Early-Life Host Defense, Perinatal Infections, and Necrotizing Enterocolitis—An Update. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11175074. [PMID: 36079001 PMCID: PMC9457252 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11175074] [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: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Host defense against early-life infections such as chorioamnionitis, neonatal sepsis, or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) relies primarily on innate immunity, in which antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a major role. AMPs that are important for the fetus and neonate include α and β defensins, cathelicidin LL-37, antiproteases (elafin, SLPI), and hepcidin. They can be produced by the fetus or neonate, the placenta, chorioamniotic membranes, recruited neutrophils, and milk-protein ingestion or proteolysis. They possess antimicrobial, immunomodulating, inflammation-regulating, and tissue-repairing properties. AMPs are expressed as early as the 13th week and increase progressively through gestation. Limited studies are available on AMP expression and levels in the fetus and neonate. Nevertheless, existing evidence supports the role of AMPs in pathogenesis of chorioamnionitis, neonatal sepsis, and NEC, and their association with disease severity. This suggests a potential role of AMPs in diagnosis, prevention, prognosis, and treatment of sepsis and NEC. Herein, we present an overview of the antimicrobial and immunomodulating properties of human AMPs, their sources in the intrauterine environment, fetus, and neonate, and their changes during pre- and post-natal infections and NEC. We also discuss emerging data regarding the potential utility of AMPs in early-life infections, as diagnostic or predictive biomarkers and as therapeutic alternatives or adjuncts to antibiotic therapy considering the increase of antibiotic resistance in neonatal intensive care units.
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Montero Vega S, Booth V, Rowley CN. Interaction between Antimicrobial Peptide Magainin 2 and Nonlipid Components in the Bacterial Outer Envelope. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:5473-5480. [PMID: 35829704 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c02768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer advantages over conventional antibiotics; for example, bacteria develop more resistance to small-molecule antibiotics than to AMPs. The interaction of the AMPs with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) layer of the Gram-negative bacteria cell envelope is not well understood. A MARTINI model was constructed of a Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane interacting with the AMP Magainin 2. In a 20 μs molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the AMP diffused to the LPS layer of the cell envelope and remained there, suggesting interactions between the Magainin 2 and the LPS layer, causing the AMP to concentrate at that position. The free energy profile for the insertion of the Magainin 2 into the membrane was also calculated using umbrella sampling, which showed that the AMP positioned such that the cationic side chains of the AMP coordinated to the negatively charged phosphate groups of the LPS layer. These simulations indicate that the AMP Magainin 2 partition into the LPS layer of a bacterial membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheyla Montero Vega
- Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Valerie Booth
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1C 5S7, Canada
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