1
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Mathes TG, Monirizad M, Ermis M, de Barros NR, Rodriguez M, Kraatz HB, Jucaud V, Khademhosseini A, Falcone N. Effects of amyloid-β-mimicking peptide hydrogel matrix on neuronal progenitor cell phenotype. Acta Biomater 2024; 183:89-100. [PMID: 38801867 PMCID: PMC11239292 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.05.020] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Self-assembling peptide-based hydrogels have become a highly attractive scaffold for three-dimensional (3D) in vitro disease modeling as they provide a way to create tunable matrices that can resemble the extracellular matrix (ECM) of various microenvironments. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an exceptionally complex neurodegenerative condition; however, our understanding has advanced due to the transition from two-dimensional (2D) to 3D in vitro modeling. Nonetheless, there is a current gap in knowledge regarding the role of amyloid structures, and previously developed models found long-term difficulty in creating an appropriate model involving the ECM and amyloid aggregates. In this report, we propose a multi-component self-assembling peptide-based hydrogel scaffold to mimic the amyloid-beta (β) containing microenvironment. Characterization of the amyloid-β-mimicking hydrogel (Col-HAMA-FF) reveals the formation of β-sheet structures as a result of the self-assembling properties of phenylalanine (Phe, F) through π-π stacking of the residues, thus mimicking the amyloid-β protein nanostructures. We investigated the effect of the amyloid-β-mimicking microenvironment on healthy neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) compared to a natural-mimicking matrix (Col-HAMA). Our results demonstrated higher levels of neuroinflammation and apoptosis markers when NPCs were cultured in the amyloid-like matrix compared to a natural brain matrix. Here, we provided insights into the impact of amyloid-like structures on NPC phenotypes and behaviors. This foundational work, before progressing to more complex plaque models, provides a promising scaffold for future investigations on AD mechanisms and drug testing. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, we engineered two multi-component hydrogels: one to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) of the brain and one to resemble an amyloid-like microenvironment using a self-assembling peptide hydrogel. The self-assembling peptide mimics β-amyloid fibrils seen in amyloid-β protein aggregates. We report on the culture of neuronal progenitor cells within the amyloid-mimicking ECM scaffold to study the impact through marker expressions related to inflammation and DNA damage. This foundational work, before progressing to more complex plaque models, offers a promising scaffold for future investigations on AD mechanisms and drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess Grett Mathes
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mahsa Monirizad
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Menekse Ermis
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA; BIOMATEN, Center of Excellence in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Natan Roberto de Barros
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marco Rodriguez
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Heinz-Bernhard Kraatz
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2E4, Canada; Department of Physical and Environmental Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Vadim Jucaud
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Natashya Falcone
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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2
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Singh IR, Aggarwal N, Srivastava S, Panda JJ, Mishra J. Small Peptide-Based Nanodelivery Systems for Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 390:30-44. [PMID: 37977815 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001845] [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: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing nano-biomaterials with tunable topology, size, and surface characteristics has shown tremendously favorable benefits in various biologic and clinical applications. Among various nano-biomaterials, peptide-based drug delivery systems offer multiple merits over other synthetic systems due to their enhanced bio- and cytocompatibility and desirable biochemical and biophysical properties. Currently, around 100 peptide-based drugs are clinically available for numerous therapeutic purposes. In conjugation with chemotherapeutic moieties, peptides demonstrate a remarkable ability to reduce nonspecific drug effects by improving drug targetability at cancer sites. This review encompasses a wide-ranging role played by different peptide-based nanostructures in cancer theranostics. Section 1 introduces the rising concern about cancer as a disease and further describes peptide-based nanomaterials as biomedical agents to tackle the ailment. The subsequent section explores the mechanistic pathways behind the self-assembly of peptides to form hierarchically distinct assemblies. The crux of our review lies in an exhaustive exploration of the applications of various types of peptide-based nanostructures in cancer therapy and diagnosis. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Peptide-based drug delivery systems possess superior biocompatibility, biochemical, and biophysical properties compared to other synthetic alternatives. The development of these nano-biomaterials with customizable topology, size, and surface characteristics have shown promising outcomes in biomedical contexts. Peptides in conjunction with chemotherapeutic agents exhibit the ability to enhance drug targetability at cancer sites, reducing nonspecific drug effects. This comprehensive review emphasizes the pivotal role of diverse peptide-based nanostructures as cancer theranostics, elucidating their potential in revolutionizing cancer therapy and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imocha Rajkumar Singh
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, India (I.R.S., N.A., S.S., J.J.P.) and School of Biosciences, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, India (J.M.)
| | - Nidhi Aggarwal
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, India (I.R.S., N.A., S.S., J.J.P.) and School of Biosciences, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, India (J.M.)
| | - Swapnil Srivastava
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, India (I.R.S., N.A., S.S., J.J.P.) and School of Biosciences, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, India (J.M.)
| | - Jiban Jyoti Panda
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, India (I.R.S., N.A., S.S., J.J.P.) and School of Biosciences, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, India (J.M.)
| | - Jibanananda Mishra
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, India (I.R.S., N.A., S.S., J.J.P.) and School of Biosciences, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, India (J.M.)
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3
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Monti A, Scognamiglio PL, Ruvo M, Vitagliano L, Doti N. The Characterization of Multifaceted PREP1 Peptides Provides Insights into Correlations between Spectroscopic and Structural Properties of Amyloid-like Assemblies. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400846. [PMID: 38682403 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400846] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The widespread ability of proteins and peptides to self-assemble by forming cross-β structure is one of the most significant discoveries in structural biology. Intriguingly, the cross-β association of proteins/peptides may generate intricate supramolecular architectures with uncommon spectroscopic properties. We have recently characterized self-assembled peptides extracted from the PREP1 protein that are endowed with interesting structural/spectroscopic properties. We here demonstrate that the green fluorescence emission of the peptide PREP1[117-132] (λem ~520 nm), can be induced by excitation with UV radiation. The associated unusually large Stokes shift (Δλ ~150 nm) represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first evidence of an internal resonance energy transfer in amyloid-like structures, where the blue emission of some assemblies becomes the excitation radiation for others. Moreover, the characterization of PREP1[117-132] variants provides insights into the sequence/structure and structure/spectroscopic properties relationships. Our data suggests that the green fluorescence is plausibly associated with antiparallel β-sheet states of the peptide whereas parallel β-sheet assemblies are only endowed with blue fluorescence. Notably, the different PREP1[117-132] variants also form assemblies characterized by distinct morphologies. Indeed, the parent peptide and single mutants form compact but structured aggregates whereas most of the double mutants exhibit elongated and highly extended fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Monti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB)-CNR, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Pasqualina Liana Scognamiglio
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Macchia Romana Campus 10, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano, 85100, Potenza, Italy
| | - Menotti Ruvo
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB)-CNR, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB)-CNR, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Nunzianna Doti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB)-CNR, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131, Napoli, Italy
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4
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Kalita M, Yadav K, Archana A, Gopakumar TG, Vasudev PG, Ramapanicker R. Incorporation of phenylcarbonyl groups in the sidechain: A tool to induce ordered assembly of peptides on surfaces. J Pept Sci 2024:e3629. [PMID: 38898708 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3629] [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: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The possibility of introducing various functionalities on peptides with relative ease allows them to be used for molecular applications. However, oligopeptides prepared entirely from proteinogenic amino acids seldom assemble as ordered structures on surfaces. Therefore, sidechain modifications of peptides that can increase the intermolecular interactions without altering the constitution of a given peptide become an attractive route to self-assembling them on surfaces. We find that replacing phenylalanine residues with unusual amino acids that have phenylcarbonyl sidechains in oligopeptides increases the formation of ordered self-assembly on a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite surface. Peptides containing the modified amino acids provided extended long-range ordered assemblies, while the analogous peptides containing phenylalanine residues failed to form long-range assemblies. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the bulk structures of these peptides and the analogous peptides containing phenylalanine residues reveal that such modifications do not alter the secondary structure in crystals. It also reveals that the secondary hydrogen bonding interaction through phenylcarbonyl sidechains facilitates extended growth of the peptides on graphite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinal Kalita
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India
| | - Khushboo Yadav
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India
| | - Archana Archana
- Molecular and Structural Biology Department, CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India
| | | | - Prema G Vasudev
- Molecular and Structural Biology Department, CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India
| | - Ramesh Ramapanicker
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India
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5
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Nochebuena J, Liu S, Cisneros GA. Relative cooperativity in neutral and charged molecular clusters using QM/MM calculations. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:134301. [PMID: 38557841 DOI: 10.1063/5.0203020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
QM/MM methods have been used to study electronic structure properties and chemical reactivity in complex molecular systems where direct electronic structure calculations are not feasible. In our previous work, we showed that non-polarizable force fields, by design, describe intermolecular interactions through pairwise interactions, overlooking many-body interactions involving three or more particles. In contrast, polarizable force fields account partially for many-body effects through polarization, but still handle van der Waals and permanent electrostatic interactions pairwise. We showed that despite those limitations, polarizable and non-polarizable force fields can reproduce relative cooperativity achieved using density functional theory due to error compensation mechanisms. In this contribution, we assess the performance of QM/MM methods in reproducing these phenomena. Our study highlights the significance of the QM region size and force field choice in QM/MM calculations, emphasizing the importance of parameter validation to obtain accurate interaction energy predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Nochebuena
- Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Shubin Liu
- Research Computing Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - G Andrés Cisneros
- Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
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6
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Shao T, Noroozifar M, Kraatz HB. Divalent metal ion modulation of a simple peptide-based hydrogel: self-assembly and viscoelastic properties. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:2720-2729. [PMID: 38454905 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01544k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Peptide self-assembly has been highly studied to understand the pathways in forming higher order structures along with the development and application of resulting hydrogel materials. Driven by noncovalent interactions, peptide hydrogels are stimuli-responsive to any addition to its gelling conditions. Here, a Phe-His based peptide, C14-FH(Trt)-OH, was synthesized and characterized with 1H NMR, FT-IR, MS, UV-vis spectroscopies and elemental analysis. Based on SEM imaging, the dipeptide conjugate was capable of forming a nanofibrous, interconnected network encapsulating buffer to produce a supramolecular hydrogel. Through the addition of Zn2+ and Cu2+, there is a clear change in the self-assembled nanostructures characterized through SEM. With this effect on self-assembly follows a change in the viscoelastic properties of the material, as determined through rheological frequency sweeps, with 2 and 3 orders of magnitude decreases in the elastic modulus G' in the presence of Zn2+ and Cu2+ respectively. This highlights the tunability of soft material properties with peptide design and self-assembly, through metal ions and Nδ-directed coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuimy Shao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, M5S 3H6, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1065 Military Trail, M1C 1A4, Scarborough, Canada.
| | - Meissam Noroozifar
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1065 Military Trail, M1C 1A4, Scarborough, Canada.
| | - Heinz-Bernhard Kraatz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, M5S 3H6, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1065 Military Trail, M1C 1A4, Scarborough, Canada.
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7
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Nochebuena J, Piquemal JP, Liu S, Cisneros GA. Cooperativity and Frustration Effects (or Lack Thereof) in Polarizable and Non-polarizable Force Fields. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:7715-7730. [PMID: 37888874 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Understanding cooperativity and frustration is crucial for studying biological processes such as molecular recognition and protein aggregation. Force fields have been extensively utilized to explore cooperativity in the formation of protein secondary structures and self-assembled systems. Multiple studies have demonstrated that polarizable force fields provide more accurate descriptions of this phenomenon compared to fixed-charge pairwise nonpolarizable force fields, thanks to the incorporation of polarization effects. In this study, we assess the performance of the AMOEBA polarizable force field and the AMBER and OPLS nonpolarizable pairwise force fields in capturing positive and negative cooperativity recently explored in neutral and charged molecular clusters using density functional theory. Our findings show that polarizable and nonpolarizable force fields qualitatively reproduce the relative cooperativity observed in electron structure calculations. However, AMBER and OPLS fail to describe absolute cooperativity. In contrast, AMOEBA accounts for the absolute cooperativity by considering interactions beyond pairwise interactions. According to the energy decomposition analysis, it is observed that the electrostatic interactions calculated with the AMBER and OPLS force fields seem to play an important and counterintuitive role in reproducing the adiabatic interaction energies calculated with density functional theory. However, it is important to note that these force fields, due to their nature, do not explicitly incorporate many-body effects, which limits their ability to accurately describe cooperativity. On the other hand, frustration in polarizable and nonpolarizable force fields is caused by changes in bond stretching and angle bending terms of the building blocks when they are forming a complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Nochebuena
- Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Jean-Philip Piquemal
- Laboratoire de Chimie théorique, Sorbonne Université, UMR 7616 CNRS, Paris 75005, France
| | - Shubin Liu
- Research Computing Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - G Andrés Cisneros
- Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
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8
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Ariaudo D, Cavalieri F, Rinaldi A, Aguilera A, Lopez M, Perez HG, Felipe A, del Carmen Dominguez M, Ruiz O, Martinez G, Venanzi M. Alginate Microsponges as a Scaffold for Delivery of a Therapeutic Peptide against Rheumatoid Arthritis. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2709. [PMID: 37836350 PMCID: PMC10574729 DOI: 10.3390/nano13192709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
The quest for biocompatible drug-delivery devices that could be able to open new administration routes is at the frontier of biomedical research. In this contribution, porous polysaccharide-based microsponges based on crosslinked alginate polymers were developed and characterized by optical spectroscopy and nanoscopic microscopy techniques. We show that macropores with a size distribution ranging from 50 to 120 nm enabled efficient loading and delivery of a therapeutic peptide (CIGB814), presently under a phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Alginate microsponges showed 80% loading capacity and sustained peptide release over a few hours through a diffusional mechanism favored by partial erosion of the polymer scaffold. The edible and biocompatible nature of alginate polymers open promising perspectives for developing a new generation of polysaccharide-based carriers for the controlled delivery of peptide drugs, exploiting alternative routes with respect to intravenous administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Ariaudo
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (D.A.); (F.C.)
| | - Francesca Cavalieri
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (D.A.); (F.C.)
| | - Antonio Rinaldi
- PROMAS-MATPRO Laboratory, Sustainability Department, ENEA, 00123 Rome, Italy;
- NANOFABER S.r.l., Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Ana Aguilera
- Biotechnological Development Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba; (A.A.); (M.L.); (O.R.)
| | - Matilde Lopez
- Biotechnological Development Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba; (A.A.); (M.L.); (O.R.)
| | - Hilda Garay Perez
- Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba; (H.G.P.); (A.F.); (M.d.C.D.)
| | - Ariel Felipe
- Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba; (H.G.P.); (A.F.); (M.d.C.D.)
| | - Maria del Carmen Dominguez
- Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba; (H.G.P.); (A.F.); (M.d.C.D.)
| | - Odalys Ruiz
- Biotechnological Development Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba; (A.A.); (M.L.); (O.R.)
| | - Gillian Martinez
- Business Development Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Avenue 31/158 and 190, Playa, Havana 11600, Cuba;
| | - Mariano Venanzi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (D.A.); (F.C.)
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9
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Szefczyk M, Szulc N, Gąsior-Głogowska M, Bystranowska D, Żak A, Sikora A, Polańska O, Ożyhar A, Berlicki Ł. The application of the hierarchical approach for the construction of foldameric peptide self-assembled nanostructures. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:3828-3840. [PMID: 37191235 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00005b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we show that a hierarchical approach for the construction of nanofibrils based on α,β-peptide foldamers is a rational method for the design of novel self-assembled nanomaterials based on peptides. Incorporation of a trans-(1S,2S)-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid residue into the outer positions of the model coiled-coil peptide led to the formation of helical foldamers, which was determined by circular dichroism (CD) and vibrational spectroscopy. The oligomerization state of the obtained peptides in water was established by analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC). The thioflavin T assay and Congo red methods showed that the obtained α,β-peptides possess a strong tendency to aggregate, leading to the formation of self-assembled nanostructures, which were assessed by microscopic techniques. The location of the β-amino acid in the heptad repeat of the coiled-coil structure proved to have an influence on the secondary structure of the obtained peptides and on the morphology of the self-assembled nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Szefczyk
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Natalia Szulc
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marlena Gąsior-Głogowska
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dominika Bystranowska
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Żak
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
- Advanced Materials Engineering and Modelling Group, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Andrzej Sikora
- Faculty of Electronics, Photonics and Microsystems, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Oliwia Polańska
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Andrzej Ożyhar
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Łukasz Berlicki
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland.
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10
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Balasco N, Diaferia C, Rosa E, Monti A, Ruvo M, Doti N, Vitagliano L. A Comprehensive Analysis of the Intrinsic Visible Fluorescence Emitted by Peptide/Protein Amyloid-like Assemblies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098372. [PMID: 37176084 PMCID: PMC10178990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid aggregation is a widespread process that involves proteins and peptides with different molecular complexity and amino acid composition. The structural motif (cross-β) underlying this supramolecular organization generates aggregates endowed with special mechanical and spectroscopic properties with huge implications in biomedical and technological fields, including emerging precision medicine. The puzzling ability of these assemblies to emit intrinsic and label-free fluorescence in regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as visible and even infrared, usually considered to be forbidden in the polypeptide chain, has attracted interest for its many implications in both basic and applied science. Despite the interest in this phenomenon, the physical basis of its origin is still poorly understood. To gain a global view of the available information on this phenomenon, we here provide an exhaustive survey of the current literature in which original data on this fluorescence have been reported. The emitting systems have been classified in terms of their molecular complexity, amino acid composition, and physical state. Information about the wavelength of the radiation used for the excitation as well as the emission range/peak has also been retrieved. The data collected here provide a picture of the complexity of this multifaceted phenomenon that could be helpful for future studies aimed at defining its structural and electronic basis and/or stimulating new applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Balasco
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Department of Chemistry, University of Rome Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Diaferia
- Department of Pharmacy and CIRPeB, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides "Carlo Pedone", University of Naples "Federico II", Via Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Rosa
- Department of Pharmacy and CIRPeB, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides "Carlo Pedone", University of Naples "Federico II", Via Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Monti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Menotti Ruvo
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Nunzianna Doti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), 80131 Napoli, Italy
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11
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Bassan GA, Marchesan S. Peptide-Based Materials That Exploit Metal Coordination. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010456. [PMID: 36613898 PMCID: PMC9820281 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010456] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Metal-ion coordination has been widely exploited to control the supramolecular behavior of a variety of building blocks into functional materials. In particular, peptides offer great chemical diversity for metal-binding modes, combined with inherent biocompatibility and biodegradability that make them attractive especially for medicine, sensing, and environmental remediation. The focus of this review is the last 5 years' progress in this exciting field to conclude with an overview of the future directions that this research area is currently undertaking.
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Ruan Y, Sohail M, Zhao J, Hu F, Li Y, Wang P, Zhang L. Applications of Material-Binding Peptides: A Review. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4738-4750. [PMID: 36229413 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Material-binding peptides (MBPs) are functionalized adhesive materials consisting of a few to several dozen amino acids. This affinity between MBPs and materials is regulated by multiple interactions, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking. They show selective binding and high affinity to a diverse range of inorganic and organic materials, such as silicon-based materials, metals, metal compounds, carbon materials, and polymers. They are used to improve the biocompatibility of materials, increase the efficiency of material synthesis, and guide the controlled synthesis of nanomaterials. In addition, these can be used for precise targeting of proteins by conjugating to target biomolecules. In this review, we summarize the main designs and applications of MBPs in recent years. The discussions focus on more efficient and functional peptides, including evolution and overall design of MBPs. We have also highlighted the recent applications of MBPs, such as functionalization of material surfaces, synthesis of nanomaterials, drug delivery, cancer therapy, and plastic degradation. Besides, we also discussed the development trend of MBPs. This interpretation will accelerate future investigations to bottleneck the drawbacks of available MBPs, promoting their commercial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqiang Ruan
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Muhammad Sohail
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jindi Zhao
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Fanghui Hu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yunhan Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Panlin Wang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Lihui Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
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Kauffman S, Patra S. A Testable Theory for the Emergence of the Classical World. ENTROPY 2022; 24:e24060844. [PMID: 35741564 PMCID: PMC9223018 DOI: 10.3390/e24060844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The transition from the quantum to the classical world is not yet understood. Here, we take a new approach. Central to this is the understanding that measurement and actualization cannot occur except on some specific basis. However, we have no established theory for the emergence of a specific basis. Our framework entails the following: (i) Sets of N entangled quantum variables can mutually actualize one another. (ii) Such actualization must occur in only one of the 2N possible bases. (iii) Mutual actualization progressively breaks symmetry among the 2N bases. (iv) An emerging “amplitude” for any basis can be amplified by further measurements in that basis, and it can decay between measurements. (v) The emergence of any basis is driven by mutual measurements among the N variables and decoherence with the environment. Quantum Zeno interactions among the N variables mediates the mutual measurements. (vi) As the number of variables, N, increases, the number of Quantum Zeno mediated measurements among the N variables increases. We note that decoherence alone does not yield a specific basis. (vii) Quantum ordered, quantum critical, and quantum chaotic peptides that decohere at nanosecond versus femtosecond time scales can be used as test objects. (viii) By varying the number of amino acids, N, and the use of quantum ordered, critical, or chaotic peptides, the ratio of decoherence to Quantum Zeno effects can be tuned. This enables new means to probe the emergence of one among a set of initially entangled bases via weak measurements after preparing the system in a mixed basis condition. (ix) Use of the three stable isotopes of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen and the five stable isotopes of sulfur allows any ten atoms in the test protein to be discriminably labeled and the basis of emergence for those labeled atoms can be detected by weak measurements. We present an initial mathematical framework for this theory, and we propose experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Kauffman
- Institute for Systems Biology, 401 Terry Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109-5263, USA
- Correspondence: (S.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Sudip Patra
- CEASP, NCR, OP JINDAL Global University, Delhi 131001, India
- Correspondence: (S.K.); (S.P.)
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Optical Polarization-Based Measurement Methods for Characterization of Self-Assembled Peptides' and Amino Acids' Micro- and Nanostructures. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27061802. [PMID: 35335166 PMCID: PMC8953639 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27061802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, self-assembled peptides’ and amino acids’ (SAPA) micro- and nanostructures have gained much research interest. Here, description of how SAPA architectures can be characterized using polarization-based optical measurement methods is provided. The measurement methods discussed include: polarized Raman spectroscopy, polarized imaging microscopy, birefringence imaging, and fluorescence polarization. An example of linear polarized waveguiding in an amino acid Histidine microstructure is discussed. The implementation of a polarization-based measurement method for monitoring peptide self-assembly processes and for deriving molecular orientation of peptides is also described.
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