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Carabadjac I, Steigenberger J, Geudens N, De Roo V, Muangkaew P, Madder A, Martins JC, Heerklotz H. Time-resolved fluorescence of tryptophan characterizes membrane perturbation by cyclic lipopeptides. Biophys J 2024; 123:2557-2573. [PMID: 38909278 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Viscosin is a membrane-permeabilizing, cyclic lipopeptide (CLiP) produced by Pseudomonas species. Here, we have studied four synthetic analogs (L1W, V4W, L5W, and L7W), each with one leucine (Leu; L) or valine residue exchanged for tryptophan (Trp; W) by means of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy of Trp. To this end, we recorded the average fluorescence lifetime, rotational correlation time and limiting anisotropy, dipolar relaxation time and limiting extent of relaxation, rate constant of acrylamide quenching, effect of H2O-D2O exchange, and time-resolved half-width of the spectrum in the absence and presence of POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) liposomes. Structure, localization, and hydration of the peptides were described by molecular dynamics simulations. The combination of the parameters provides a good description of the molecular environments of the Trp positions and the behavior of viscosin as a whole. Of particular value for characterizing the impact of viscosin on the membrane is the dipolar relaxation of Trp4 in V4W, which is deeply embedded in the hydrophobic core. The limiting relaxation level represents the membrane perturbation-unlike typical membrane probes-at the site of the perturbant. Fractions of Trp4 relax at different rates; the one not in contact with water upon excitation relaxes via recruitment of a water molecule on the 10-ns timescale. This rate is sensitive to the concerted membrane perturbation by more than one lipopeptide, which appears at high lipopeptide concentration and is assumed a prerequisite for the final formation of a membrane-permeabilizing defect. Trp7 relaxes primarily with respect to neighboring Ser residues. Trp5 flips between a membrane-inserted and surface-exposed orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Carabadjac
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | | | - Niels Geudens
- NMR and Structure Analysis Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vic De Roo
- NMR and Structure Analysis Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Organic and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Penthip Muangkaew
- Organic and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annemieke Madder
- Organic and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - José C Martins
- NMR and Structure Analysis Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Heiko Heerklotz
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Biological Signaling Studies (BIOSS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Akhash N, Farajzadeh Sheikh A, Farshadzadeh Z. Design of a novel analogue peptide with potent antibiofilm activities against Staphylococcus aureus based upon a sapecin B-derived peptide. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2256. [PMID: 38278972 PMCID: PMC10817945 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52721-0] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, antimicrobial peptides are promising to confront the existing global crisis of antibiotic resistance. Here, a novel analogue peptide (mKLK) was designed based upon a D-form amidated sapecin B-derived peptide (KLK) by replacing two lysine residues with two tryptophan and one leucine by lysine, and inserting one alanine. The mKLK displayed superior amphipathic helixes in which the most of hydrophobic residues are confined to one face of the helix and had a higher hydrophobic moment compared with KLK. The mKLK retained its antibacterial activity and structure in human serum, suggesting its stability to proteolytic degradation. The values of MIC and MBC for mKLK were equal to those of KLK against clinical strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). However, mKLK showed more capability of in vitro inhibiting, eradicating, and dispersing MRSA and MSSA biofilms compared with KLK. Furthermore, a remarkable inhibitory activity of mKLK against MRSA and MSSA biofilms was seen in the murine model of catheter-associated biofilm infection. Results of this study show that mKLK not only exhibits antibacterial activity and serum stability but also a potent biofilm inhibitory activity at sub-MIC concentrations, confirming its potential therapeutic advantage for preventing biofilm-associated MRSA and MSSA infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Akhash
- Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Farajzadeh Sheikh
- Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Zahra Farshadzadeh
- Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
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Lee H, Kim B, Kim M, Yoo S, Lee J, Hwang E, Kim Y. Characterization of the Antimicrobial Activities of Trichoplusia ni Cecropin A as a High-Potency Therapeutic against Colistin-Resistant Escherichia coli. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1752. [PMID: 37376200 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061752] [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: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The spread of colistin-resistant bacteria is a serious threat to public health. As an alternative to traditional antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show promise against multidrug resistance. In this study, we investigated the activity of the insect AMP Tricoplusia ni cecropin A (T. ni cecropin) against colistin-resistant bacteria. T. ni cecropin exhibited significant antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against colistin-resistant Escherichia coli (ColREC) with low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells in vitro. Results of permeabilization of the ColREC outer membrane as monitored through 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine uptake, scanning electron microscopy, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) neutralization, and LPS-binding interaction revealed that T. ni cecropin manifested antibacterial activity by targeting the outer membrane of E. coli with strong interaction with LPS. T. ni cecropin specifically targeted toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and showed anti-inflammatory activities with a significant reduction of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages stimulated with either LPS or ColREC via blockade of TLR4-mediated inflammatory signaling. Moreover, T. ni cecropin exhibited anti-septic effects in an LPS-induced endotoxemia mouse model, confirming its LPS-neutralizing activity, immunosuppressive effect, and recovery of organ damage in vivo. These findings demonstrate that T. ni cecropin exerts strong antimicrobial activities against ColREC and could serve as a foundation for the development of AMP therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeju Lee
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Byeongkwon Kim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Minju Kim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Seoyeong Yoo
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinkyeong Lee
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunha Hwang
- Center for Research Equipment, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Yangmee Kim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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Rao KU, Li P, Welinder C, Tenland E, Gourdon P, Sturegård E, Ho JCS, Godaly G. Mechanisms of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis Active Peptide. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020540. [PMID: 36839864 PMCID: PMC9958537 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020540] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR) continues to pose a threat to public health. Previously, we identified a cationic host defense peptide with activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vivo and with a bactericidal effect against MDR M. tuberculosis at therapeutic concentrations. To understand the mechanisms of this peptide, we investigated its interactions with live M. tuberculosis and liposomes as a model. Peptide interactions with M. tuberculosis inner membranes induced tube-shaped membranous structures and massive vesicle formation, thus leading to bubbling cell death and ghost cell formation. Liposomal studies revealed that peptide insertion into inner membranes induced changes in the peptides' secondary structure and that the membranes were pulled such that they aggregated without permeabilization, suggesting that the peptide has a strong inner membrane affinity. Finally, the peptide targeted essential proteins in M. tuberculosis, such as 60 kDa chaperonins and elongation factor Tu, that are involved in mycolic acid synthesis and protein folding, which had an impact on bacterial proliferation. The observed multifaceted targeting provides additional support for the therapeutic potential of this peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Umashankar Rao
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Glycobiology, Institution of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Welinder
- Swedish National Infrastructure for Biological Mass Spectrometry, Lund University, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Erik Tenland
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Glycobiology, Institution of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Pontus Gourdon
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Erik Sturegård
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institution of Translational Medicine, Lund University, SE-21428 Malmö, Sweden
| | - James C. S. Ho
- Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637553, Singapore
| | - Gabriela Godaly
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Glycobiology, Institution of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
- Correspondence:
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Ferreira AR, Ferreira M, Nunes C, Reis S, Teixeira C, Gomes P, Gameiro P. The Unusual Aggregation and Fusion Activity of the Antimicrobial Peptide W-BP100 in Anionic Vesicles. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:138. [PMID: 36837642 PMCID: PMC9966869 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13020138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) offer a promising strategy to counteract bacterial resistance, mostly due to their membrane-targeting activity. W-BP100 is a potent broad-spectrum cecropin-melittin CAMP bearing a single N-terminal Trp, which was previously found to improve its antibacterial activity. W-BP100 has high affinity toward anionic membranes, inducing membrane saturation at low peptide-to-lipid (P/L) ratios and membrane permeabilization, with the unique property of promoting the aggregation of anionic vesicles only at specific P/L ratios. Herein, we aimed to investigate this unusual behavior of W-BP100 by studying its aggregation and fusion properties with negatively-charged large (LUVs) or giant (GUVs) unilamellar vesicles using biophysical tools. Circular dichroism (CD) showed that W-BP100 adopted an α-helical conformation in anionic LUVs, neutralizing its surface charge at the aggregation P/L ratio. Its fusion activity, assessed by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, occurred mainly at the membrane saturation/aggregation P/L ratio. Confocal microscopy studies confirmed that W-BP100 displays aggregation and detergent-like effects at a critical P/L ratio, above which it induces the formation of new lipid aggregates. Our data suggest that W-BP100 promotes the aggregation and fusion of anionic vesicles at specific P/L ratios, being able to reshape the morphology of GUVs into new lipid structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Ferreira
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Ferreira
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Nunes
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Química Aplicada, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Portugal, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Salette Reis
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Química Aplicada, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Portugal, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cátia Teixeira
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Gomes
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Gameiro
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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Analysis of the interaction of cyclosporine congeners with cell membrane models. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2022; 218:114874. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Stapling of Peptides Potentiates: The Antibiotic Treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii In Vivo. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020273. [PMID: 35203875 PMCID: PMC8868297 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The rising incidence of multidrug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria underlines the urgency for novel treatment options. One promising new approach is the synergistic combination of antibiotics with antimicrobial peptides. However, the use of such peptides is not straightforward; they are often sensitive to proteolytic degradation, which greatly limits their clinical potential. One approach to increase stability is to apply a hydrocarbon staple to the antimicrobial peptide, thereby fixing them in an α-helical conformation, which renders them less exposed to proteolytic activity. In this work we applied several different hydrocarbon staples to two previously described peptides shown to act on the outer membrane, L6 and L8, and tested their activity in a zebrafish embryo infection model using a clinical isolate of Acinetobacter baumannii as a pathogen. We show that the introduction of such a hydrocarbon staple to the peptide L8 improves its in vivo potentiating activity on antibiotic treatment, without increasing its in vivo antimicrobial activity, toxicity or hemolytic activity.
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Special Issue on Drug-Membrane Interactions. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11100764. [PMID: 34677530 PMCID: PMC8539237 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11100764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Ferreira M, Gameiro P. Fluoroquinolone-Transition Metal Complexes: A Strategy to Overcome Bacterial Resistance. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9071506. [PMID: 34361943 PMCID: PMC8303200 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are antibiotics widely used in the clinical practice due to their large spectrum of action against Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria. Nevertheless, the misuse and overuse of these antibiotics has triggered the development of bacterial resistance mechanisms. One of the strategies to circumvent this problem is the complexation of FQs with transition metal ions, known as metalloantibiotics, which can promote different activity and enhanced pharmacological behaviour. Here, we discuss the stability of FQ metalloantibiotics and their possible translocation pathways. The main goal of the present review is to frame the present knowledge on the conjunction of biophysical and biological tools that can help to unravel the antibacterial action of FQ metalloantibiotics. An additional goal is to shed light on the studies that must be accomplished to ensure stability and viability of such metalloantibiotics. Potentiometric, spectroscopic, microscopic, microbiological, and computational techniques are surveyed. Stability and partition constants, interaction with membrane porins and elucidation of their role in the influx, determination of the antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates, elucidation of the mechanism of action, and toxicity assays are described for FQ metalloantibiotics.
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