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Duque HM, Dos Santos C, Brango-Vanegas J, Díaz-Martín RD, Dias SC, Franco OL. Unwrapping the structural and functional features of antimicrobial peptides from wasp venoms. Pharmacol Res 2024; 200:107069. [PMID: 38218356 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
The study of wasp venoms has captured attention due to the presence of a wide variety of active compounds, revealing a diverse array of biological effects. Among these compounds, certain antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as mastoparans and chemotactic peptides have emerged as significant players, characterized by their unique amphipathic short linear alpha-helical structure. These peptides exhibit not only antibiotic properties but also a range of other biological activities, which are related to their ability to interact with biological membranes to varying degrees. This review article aims to provide updated insights into the structure/function relationships of AMPs derived from wasp venoms, linking this knowledge to the potential development of innovative treatments against infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Morales Duque
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
| | - Cristiane Dos Santos
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, PC: (CEP) 79117-010 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - José Brango-Vanegas
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil; S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, PC: (CEP) 79117-010 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Ruben Dario Díaz-Martín
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Simoni Campos Dias
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil; Program in Animal Biology, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF70910-900, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil; S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, PC: (CEP) 79117-010 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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Ye X, Zhang H, Luo X, Huang F, Sun F, Zhou L, Qin C, Ding L, Zhou H, Liu X, Chen Z. Characterization of the Hemolytic Activity of Mastoparan Family Peptides from Wasp Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:591. [PMID: 37888622 PMCID: PMC10611374 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15100591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Biologically active peptides have attracted increasing attention in research on the development of new drugs. Mastoparans, a group of wasp venom linear cationic α-helical peptides, have a variety of biological effects, including mast cell degranulation, activation of protein G, and antimicrobial and anticancer activities. However, the potential hemolytic activity of cationic α-helical peptides greatly limits the clinical applications of mastoparans. Here, we systematically and comprehensively studied the hemolytic activity of mastoparans based on our wasp venom mastoparan family peptide library. The results showed that among 55 mastoparans, 18 had strong hemolytic activity (EC50 ≤ 100 μM), 14 had modest hemolytic activity (100 μM < EC50 ≤ 400 μM) and 23 had little hemolytic activity (EC50 > 400 μM), suggesting functional variation in the molecular diversity of mastoparan family peptides from wasp venom. Based on these data, structure-function relationships were further explored, and, hydrophobicity, but not net charge and amphiphilicity, was found to play a critical role in the hemolytic activity of mastoparans. Combining the reported antimicrobial activity with the present hemolytic activity data, we found that four mastoparan peptides, Parapolybia-MP, Mastoparan-like peptide 12b, Dominulin A and Dominulin B, have promise for applications because of their high antimicrobial activity (MIC ≤ 10 μM) and low hemolytic activity (EC50 ≥ 400 μM). Our research not only identified new leads for the antimicrobial application of mastoparans but also provided a large chemical space to support the molecular design and optimization of mastoparan family peptides with low hemolytic activity regardless of net charge or amphiphilicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangdong Ye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.Y.); (H.Z.); (X.L.); (F.S.); (C.Q.); (H.Z.); (X.L.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Huajun Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.Y.); (H.Z.); (X.L.); (F.S.); (C.Q.); (H.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Xudong Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.Y.); (H.Z.); (X.L.); (F.S.); (C.Q.); (H.Z.); (X.L.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Fengyin Huang
- Department of Public Studies, Changde Vocational Technical College, Changde 415000, China;
| | - Fang Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.Y.); (H.Z.); (X.L.); (F.S.); (C.Q.); (H.Z.); (X.L.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Liangbin Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Prince Wales Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Chenhu Qin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.Y.); (H.Z.); (X.L.); (F.S.); (C.Q.); (H.Z.); (X.L.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Li Ding
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China;
| | - Haimei Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.Y.); (H.Z.); (X.L.); (F.S.); (C.Q.); (H.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.Y.); (H.Z.); (X.L.); (F.S.); (C.Q.); (H.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Zongyun Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.Y.); (H.Z.); (X.L.); (F.S.); (C.Q.); (H.Z.); (X.L.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
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