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Cheong HH, Zuo W, Chen J, Un CW, Si YW, Wong KH, Kwok HF, Siu SWI. Identification of Anticancer Peptides from the Genome of Candida albicans: in Silico Screening, in Vitro and in Vivo Validations. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:6174-6189. [PMID: 39008832 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Anticancer peptides (ACPs) are promising future therapeutics, but their experimental discovery remains time-consuming and costly. To accelerate the discovery process, we propose a computational screening workflow to identify, filter, and prioritize peptide sequences based on predicted class probability, antitumor activity, and toxicity. The workflow was applied to identify novel ACPs with potent activity against colorectal cancer from the genome sequences of Candida albicans. As a result, four candidates were identified and validated in the HCT116 colon cancer cell line. Among them, PCa1 and PCa2 emerged as the most potent, displaying IC50 values of 3.75 and 56.06 μM, respectively, and demonstrating a 4-fold selectivity for cancer cells over normal cells. In the colon xenograft nude mice model, the administration of both peptides resulted in substantial inhibition of tumor growth without causing significant adverse effects. In conclusion, this work not only contributes a proven computational workflow for ACP discovery but also introduces two peptides, PCa1 and PCa2, as promising candidates poised for further development as targeted therapies for colon cancer. The method as a web service is available at https://app.cbbio.online/acpep/home and the source code at https://github.com/cartercheong/AcPEP_classification.git.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Hin Cheong
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Weimin Zuo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Jiarui Chen
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Chon-Wai Un
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Yain-Whar Si
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Koon Ho Wong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Hang Fai Kwok
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Shirley W I Siu
- Centre for Artificial Intelligence Driven Drug Discovery, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, R. de Luís Gonzaga Gomes, Macau SAR 999078, China
- Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph, Estrada Marginal da Ilha Verde 14-17, Macau SAR 999078, China
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2
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Figueiredo D, Cruz RGB, Normando AGC, Granato DC, Busso-Lopes AF, Carnielli CM, De Rossi T, Paes Leme AF. Peptidomics Strategies to Evaluate Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2758:401-423. [PMID: 38549027 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3646-6_22] [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: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Peptides have potential bioactive functions, and the peptidomics landscape has been broadly investigated for various diseases, including cancer. In this chapter, we reviewed the past four years of literature available and selected 16 peer-reviewed publications exploring peptidomics in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment in cancer research. We highlighted their main aims, mass spectrometry-based peptidomics, multi-omics, data-driven and in silico strategies, functional assays, and clinical applications. Moreover, we underscored several levels of difficulties in translating the peptidomics findings to clinical practice, aiming to learn with the accumulated knowledge and guide upcoming studies. Finally, this review reinforces the peptidomics robustness in discovering potential candidates for monitoring the several stages of cancer disease and therapeutic treatment, leveraging the management of cancer patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella Figueiredo
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, LNBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, CNPEM, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo G B Cruz
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, LNBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, CNPEM, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Gabriela Costa Normando
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, LNBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, CNPEM, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniela C Granato
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, LNBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, CNPEM, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ariane F Busso-Lopes
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, LNBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, CNPEM, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Carolina M Carnielli
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, LNBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, CNPEM, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Tatiane De Rossi
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, LNBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, CNPEM, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriana Franco Paes Leme
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, LNBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, CNPEM, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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Kongsompong S, E-kobon T, Taengphan W, Sangkhawasi M, Khongkow M, Chumnanpuen P. Computer-Aided Virtual Screening and In Vitro Validation of Biomimetic Tyrosinase Inhibitory Peptides from Abalone Peptidome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043154. [PMID: 36834568 PMCID: PMC9965614 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperpigmentation is a medical and cosmetic problem caused by an excess accumulation of melanin or the overexpression of the enzyme tyrosinase, leading to several skin disorders, i.e., freckles, melasma, and skin cancer. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanogenesis and thus a target for reducing melanin production. Although abalone is a good source of bioactive peptides that have been used for several properties including depigmentation, the available information on the anti-tyrosinase property of abalone peptides remains insufficient. This study investigated the anti-tyrosinase properties of Haliotis diversicolor tyrosinase inhibitory peptides (hdTIPs) based on mushroom tyrosinase, cellular tyrosinase, and melanin content assays. The binding conformation between peptides and tyrosinase was also examined by molecular docking and dynamics study. KNN1 showed a high potent inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase with an IC50 of 70.83 μM. Moreover, our selected hdTIPs could inhibit melanin production through the reductions in tyrosinase activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by enhancing the antioxidative enzymes. RF1 showed the highest activity on both cellular tyrosinase inhibition and ROS reduction. leading to the lower melanin content in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Accordingly, it can be assumed that our selected peptides exhibited high potential in medical cosmetology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasikarn Kongsompong
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Teerasak E-kobon
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Weerasak Taengphan
- Expert Centre of Innovative Herbal Products (InnoHerb), Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Techno Polis, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Mattanun Sangkhawasi
- Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Mattaka Khongkow
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Pramote Chumnanpuen
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Correspondence:
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Short Linear Motifs in Colorectal Cancer Interactome and Tumorigenesis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233739. [PMID: 36496998 PMCID: PMC9737320 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233739] [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: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal tumorigenesis is driven by alterations in genes and proteins responsible for cancer initiation, progression, and invasion. This multistage process is based on a dense network of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) that become dysregulated as a result of changes in various cell signaling effectors. PPIs in signaling and regulatory networks are known to be mediated by short linear motifs (SLiMs), which are conserved contiguous regions of 3-10 amino acids within interacting protein domains. SLiMs are the minimum sequences required for modulating cellular PPI networks. Thus, several in silico approaches have been developed to predict and analyze SLiM-mediated PPIs. In this review, we focus on emerging evidence supporting a crucial role for SLiMs in driver pathways that are disrupted in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis and related PPI network alterations. As a result, SLiMs, along with short peptides, are attracting the interest of researchers to devise small molecules amenable to be used as novel anti-CRC targeted therapies. Overall, the characterization of SLiMs mediating crucial PPIs in CRC may foster the development of more specific combined pharmacological approaches.
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Prediction of Antibacterial Peptides against Propionibacterium acnes from the Peptidomes of Achatina fulica Mucus Fractions. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27072290. [PMID: 35408688 PMCID: PMC9000865 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27072290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease mainly caused by the Gram-positive pathogenic bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes. This bacterium stimulates the inflammation process in human sebaceous glands. The giant African snail (Achatina fulica) is an alien species that rapidly reproduces and seriously damages agricultural products in Thailand. There were several research reports on the medical and pharmaceutical benefits of these snail mucus peptides and proteins. This study aimed to in silico predict multifunctional bioactive peptides from A. fulica mucus peptidome using bioinformatic tools for the determination of antimicrobial (iAMPpred), anti-biofilm (dPABBs), cytotoxic (ToxinPred) and cell-membrane-penetrating (CPPpred) peptides. Three candidate peptides with the highest predictive score were selected and re-designed/modified to improve the required activities. Structural and physicochemical properties of six anti-P. acnes (APA) peptide candidates were performed using the PEP-FOLD3 program and the four previous tools. All candidates had a random coiled structure and were named APAP-1 ori, APAP-2 ori, APAP-3 ori, APAP-1 mod, APAP-2 mod, and APAP-3 mod. To validate the APA activity, these peptide candidates were synthesized and tested against six isolates of P. acnes. The modified APA peptides showed high APA activity on three isolates. Therefore, our biomimetic mucus peptides could be useful for preventing acne vulgaris and further examined on other activities important to medical and pharmaceutical applications.
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