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Peng Z, Iwabuchi S, Izumi K, Takiguchi S, Yamaji M, Fujita S, Suzuki H, Kambara F, Fukasawa G, Cooney A, Di Michele L, Elani Y, Matsuura T, Kawano R. Lipid vesicle-based molecular robots. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:996-1029. [PMID: 38239102 PMCID: PMC10898420 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00860f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
A molecular robot, which is a system comprised of one or more molecular machines and computers, can execute sophisticated tasks in many fields that span from nanomedicine to green nanotechnology. The core parts of molecular robots are fairly consistent from system to system and always include (i) a body to encapsulate molecular machines, (ii) sensors to capture signals, (iii) computers to make decisions, and (iv) actuators to perform tasks. This review aims to provide an overview of approaches and considerations to develop molecular robots. We first introduce the basic technologies required for constructing the core parts of molecular robots, describe the recent progress towards achieving higher functionality, and subsequently discuss the current challenges and outlook. We also highlight the applications of molecular robots in sensing biomarkers, signal communications with living cells, and conversion of energy. Although molecular robots are still in their infancy, they will unquestionably initiate massive change in biomedical and environmental technology in the not too distant future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zugui Peng
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Shoji Iwabuchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Kayano Izumi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Sotaro Takiguchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Misa Yamaji
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Shoko Fujita
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Harune Suzuki
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Fumika Kambara
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Genki Fukasawa
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Aileen Cooney
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Lorenzo Di Michele
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Tomoaki Matsuura
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Ryuji Kawano
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
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Izumi K, Saito C, Kawano R. Liposome Deformation Induced by Membrane-Binding Peptides. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:373. [PMID: 36838073 PMCID: PMC9967443 DOI: 10.3390/mi14020373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents an investigation of liposome deformation and shape distortion using four membrane-binding peptides: TAT and C105Y as cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), and melittin and ovispirin as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Liposome deformation was monitored utilizing fluorescent microscopy, while the binding of peptides to the DOPC membrane was estimated through capacitance measurements. The degree of liposome deformation and shape distortion was found to be higher for the CPPs compared to the AMPs. Additionally, it was observed that C105Y did not induce liposome rupture, unlike the other three peptides. We propose that these variations in liposome distortion may be attributed to differences in secondary structure, specifically the presence of an α-helix or random coil. Our studies offer insight into the use of peptides to elicit control of liposome architecture and may offer a promising approach for regulating the bodies of liposomal molecular robots.
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Melittin Tryptophan Substitution with a Fluorescent Amino Acid Reveals the Structural Basis of Selective Antitumor Effect and Subcellular Localization in Tumor Cells. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14070428. [PMID: 35878166 PMCID: PMC9318513 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14070428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Melittin is a membrane-active peptide with strong anticancer activity against various cancers. Despite decades of research, the role of the singular Trp in the anticancer activity and selectivity of melittin remains poorly understood. Here, we propose a theranostic solution based on the substitution of Trp19 with a noncanonical fluorescent amino acid (DapAMCA). The introduction of DapAMCA residue in melittin stabilized the helical structure of the peptide, as evaluated by circular dichroism spectra and molecular dynamics simulations. In vitro hemolytic and anticancer activity assays revealed that introducing DapAMCA residue in melittin changed its mode of action with the cell membrane, resulting in reduced hemolytic toxicity and an improved the selectivity index (SI), with up to a five-fold increase compared to melittin. In vitro fluorescence imaging of DapAMCA-labeled melittin (MELFL) in cancer cells demonstrated high membrane-penetrating activity, with strong nuclear and nucleolar localization ability. These findings provide implications for novel anticancer therapies based on Trp-substituted designs and nuclear/nucleolar targeted therapy.
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Xu L, She P, Chen L, Li S, Zhou L, Hussain Z, Liu Y, Wu Y. Repurposing Candesartan Cilexetil as Antibacterial Agent for MRSA Infection. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:688772. [PMID: 34589063 PMCID: PMC8473943 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.688772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen causing hospital-acquired infections. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), biofilms, and persisters are highly tolerant to traditional antibiotics and make it difficult to treat. Therefore, new antimicrobial agents are urgently needed to treat hard-to-eradicate diseases caused by this bacterium. In this study, candesartan cilexetil (CC), an angiotensin hypertension drug, had strong antimicrobial activity against S. aureus with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of 8-16 μg/ml and 16-32 μg/ml. CC exhibited limited cytotoxicity and low potential to induce drug resistance. In addition, it showed a synergistic antibacterial effect when combined with gentamicin and tobramycin. The effective concentrations to inhibit MRSA biofilm formation were 16-64 μg/ml, and intractable persisters were killed at 4-8 × MIC. Through the analysis of its mechanism of action, it was evident that the membrane permeability was disrupted as well as the cell structure was damaged. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CC had antibacterial effects in vivo in MRSA-infected murine skin abscess models. In conclusion, these results imply that CC might be a potential antibacterial agent for the treatment of S. aureus-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Pengfei She
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lihua Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shijia Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Linying Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zubair Hussain
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yaqian Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Mousavi Maleki MS, Rostamian M, Madanchi H. Antimicrobial peptides and other peptide-like therapeutics as promising candidates to combat SARS-CoV-2. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2021; 19:1205-1217. [PMID: 33844613 PMCID: PMC8054488 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1912593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: There are currently no specific drugs and universal vaccines for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), hence urgent effective measures are needed to discover and develop therapeutic agents. Applying peptide therapeutics and their related compounds is a promising strategy to achieve this goal. This review is written based on the literature search using several databases, previous studies, scientific reports, our current knowledge about the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and our personal analyses on the potential of the antiviral peptides for the treatment of COVID-19. Areas covered: In this review, we begin with a brief description of SARS-CoV2 followed by a comprehensive description of antiviral peptides (AVPs) including natural and synthetic AMPs or AVPs and peptidomimetics. Subsequently, the structural features, mechanisms of action, limitations, and therapeutic applications of these peptides are explained. Expert opinion: Regarding the lack and the limitations of drugs against COVID-19, AMPs, AVPs, and other peptide-like compounds such as peptidomimetics have captured the attention of researchers due to their potential antiviral activities. Some of these compounds comprise unique properties and have demonstrated the potential to fight SARS-CoV2, particularly melittin, lactoferrin, enfuvirtide, and rupintrivir that have the potential to enter animal and clinical trials for the treatment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Sadat Mousavi Maleki
- Department of Biotechnology and Biotechnology Research Center, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Mosayeb Rostamian
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biotechnology Research Center, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Roberson MG, Duncan JM, Flieth KJ, Geary LM, Tucker MJ. Photo-initiated rupture of azobenzene micelles to enable the spectroscopic analysis of antimicrobial peptide dynamics. RSC Adv 2020; 10:21464-21472. [PMID: 32879729 PMCID: PMC7449587 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra01920h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show promise for the treatment of bacterial infections, but many have undesired hemolytic activities. The AMP MP1 not only has broad spectrum bactericidal activity, but has been shown to have antitumor activity. The interaction between AMPs and cellular membranes gives rise to a peptide's cell-specificity and activity. However, direct analysis of the biophysical interactions between peptides and membrane is complex, in part due to the nature of membrane environments as well as structural changes in the peptide that occurs upon binding to the membrane. In order to investigate the interplay between cell selectivity, activity, and secondary structural changes involved in antimicrobial peptide activity, we sought to implement photolizable membrane mimics to assess the types of information available from infrared spectroscopic measurements that follow from photoinitiated peptide dynamics. Azo-surfactants (APEG) form micelles containing a photolizable azobenzene core, which upon irradiation can induce membrane deformation resulting in breakdown of micelles. Spectroscopic analysis of membrane deformation may provide insights into the physical behavior associated with unfolding and dissociation of antimicrobial peptides within a membrane environment. Herein, we synthesized and characterized two new azo-surfactants, APEGTMG and APEGNEt2MeI. Furthermore, we demonstrate the viability of azosurfactants as membrane mimics by examining both the membrane binding and dissociation induced secondary structural changes of the antimicrobial peptide, MP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Roberson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89501, USA. ;
| | - Julia M Duncan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89501, USA. ;
| | - Keveen J Flieth
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89501, USA. ;
| | - Laina M Geary
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89501, USA. ;
| | - Matthew J Tucker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89501, USA. ;
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7
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The Effect of Bee Venom Peptides Melittin, Tertiapin, and Apamin on the Human Erythrocytes Ghosts: A Preliminary Study. Metabolites 2020; 10:metabo10050191. [PMID: 32413967 PMCID: PMC7281017 DOI: 10.3390/metabo10050191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Red blood cells (RBCs) are the most abundant cells in the human blood that have been extensively studied under morphology, ultrastructure, biochemical and molecular functions. Therefore, RBCs are excellent cell models in the study of biologically active compounds like drugs and toxins on the structure and function of the cell membrane. The aim of the present study was to explore erythrocyte ghost’s proteome to identify changes occurring under the influence of three bee venom peptides-melittin, tertiapin, and apamin. We conducted preliminary experiments on the erythrocyte ghosts incubated with these peptides at their non-hemolytic concentrations. Such preparations were analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. It was found that when higher concentrations of melittin and apamin were used, fewer proteins were identified. Moreover, the results clearly indicated that apamin demonstrates the greatest influence on the RBCs ghosts proteome. Interestingly, the data also suggest that tertiapin exerted a stabilizing effect on the erythrocyte membrane. The experiments carried out show the great potential of proteomic research in the projects focused on the toxin’s properties as membrane active agents. However, to determine the specificity of the effect of selected bee venom peptides on the erythrocyte ghosts, further proteomic research should be focused on the quantitative analysis.
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Sepehri A, PeBenito L, Pino-Angeles A, Lazaridis T. What Makes a Good Pore Former: A Study of Synthetic Melittin Derivatives. Biophys J 2020; 118:1901-1913. [PMID: 32183940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pore formation by membrane-active peptides, naturally encountered in innate immunity and infection, could have important medical and technological applications. Recently, the well-studied lytic peptide melittin has formed the basis for the development of combinatorial libraries from which potent pore-forming peptides have been derived, optimized to work under different conditions. We investigate three such peptides, macrolittin70, which is most active at neutral pH; pHD15, which is active only at low pH; and MelP5_Δ6, which was rationally designed to be active at low pH but formed only small pores. There are three, six, and six acidic residues in macrolittin70, pHD15, and MelP5_Δ6, respectively. We perform multi-microsecond simulations in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) of hexamers of these peptides starting from transmembrane orientations at neutral pH (all residues at standard protonation), low pH (acidic residues and His protonated), and highly acidic environments in which C-termini are also protonated. Previous simulations of the parent peptides melittin and MelP5 in 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) are repeated in POPC. We find that the most potent pore-forming peptides exhibit strong interpeptide interactions, including salt bridges, H-bonds, and polar interactions. Protonation of the C-terminus promotes helicity and pore size. The proximity of the peptides allows fewer lipid headgroups to line the pores than in previous simulations, making the pores intermediate between barrel stave and toroidal. Based on these structures and geometrical arguments, we attempt to rationalize the factors that under different conditions can increase or decrease pore stability and propose mutations that could be tested experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliasghar Sepehri
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York
| | - Leo PeBenito
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York; Graduate Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York
| | - Almudena Pino-Angeles
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York
| | - Themis Lazaridis
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York; Graduate Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York.
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Aufschnaiter A, Kohler V, Khalifa S, Abd El-Wahed A, Du M, El-Seedi H, Büttner S. Apitoxin and Its Components against Cancer, Neurodegeneration and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Limitations and Possibilities. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E66. [PMID: 31973181 PMCID: PMC7076873 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12020066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products represent important sources for the discovery and design of novel drugs. Bee venom and its isolated components have been intensively studied with respect to their potential to counteract or ameliorate diverse human diseases. Despite extensive research and significant advances in recent years, multifactorial diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases remain major healthcare issues at present. Although pure bee venom, apitoxin, is mostly described to mediate anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and neuroprotective effects, its primary component melittin may represent an anticancer therapeutic. In this review, we approach the possibilities and limitations of apitoxin and its components in the treatment of these multifactorial diseases. We further discuss the observed unspecific cytotoxicity of melittin that strongly restricts its therapeutic use and review interesting possibilities of a beneficial use by selectively targeting melittin to cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Aufschnaiter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 16, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Verena Kohler
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 20C, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (V.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Shaden Khalifa
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 20C, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (V.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Aida Abd El-Wahed
- Department of Bee Research, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, 12627 Giza, Egypt;
- Pharmacognosy Group, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre, Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, 32512 Shebin El-Kom, Egypt
| | - Ming Du
- School of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116024, China;
| | - Hesham El-Seedi
- Pharmacognosy Group, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre, Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, 32512 Shebin El-Kom, Egypt
- International Research Center for Food nutrition and safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Sabrina Büttner
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 20C, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (V.K.); (S.K.)
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Humboldtstraße 50, 8010 Graz, Austria
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10
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Effects of Peptide Charge, Orientation, and Concentration on Melittin Transmembrane Pores. Biophys J 2019; 114:2865-2874. [PMID: 29925023 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Melittin is a short cationic peptide that exerts cytolytic effects on bacterial and eukaryotic cells. Experiments suggest that in zwitterionic membranes, melittin forms transmembrane toroidal pores supported by four to eight peptides. A recently constructed melittin variant with a reduced cationic charge, MelP5, is active at 10-fold lower concentrations. In previous work, we performed molecular dynamics simulations on the microsecond timescale to examine the supramolecular pore structure of a melittin tetramer in zwitterionic and partially anionic membranes. We now extend that study to include the effects of peptide charge, initial orientation, and number of monomers on the pore formation and stabilization processes. Our results show that parallel transmembrane orientations of melittin and MelP5 are more consistent with experimental data. Whereas a MelP5 parallel hexamer forms a large stable pore during the 5-μs simulation time, a melittin hexamer and an octamer are not fully stable, with several monomers dissociating during the simulation time. Interaction-energy analysis shows that this difference in behavior between melittin and MelP5 is not due to stronger electrostatic repulsion between neighboring melittin peptides but to peptide-lipid interactions that disfavor the isolated MelP5 transmembrane monomer. The ability of melittin monomers to diffuse freely in the 1,2-dimyristoyl-SN-glycero-3-phosphocholine membrane leads to dynamic pores with varying molecularity.
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11
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Alsaadi EAJ, Neuman BW, Jones IM. A Fusion Peptide in the Spike Protein of MERS Coronavirus. Viruses 2019; 11:E825. [PMID: 31491938 PMCID: PMC6784214 DOI: 10.3390/v11090825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses represent current and emerging threats for many species, including humans. Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is responsible for sporadic infections in mostly Middle Eastern countries, with occasional transfer elsewhere. A key step in the MERS-CoV replication cycle is the fusion of the virus and host cell membranes mediated by the virus spike protein, S. The location of the fusion peptide within the MERS S protein has not been precisely mapped. We used isolated peptides and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) to demonstrate membrane binding for a peptide located near the N-terminus of the S2 domain. Key residues required for activity were mapped by amino acid replacement and their relevance in vitro tested by their introduction into recombinant MERS S protein expressed in mammalian cells. Mutations preventing membrane binding in vitro also abolished S-mediated syncytium formation consistent with the identified peptide acting as the fusion peptide for the S protein of MERS-CoV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin W Neuman
- Biology Department, CASE, Texas A&M University, Texarkana, TX 75503, USA
| | - Ian M Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AJ, UK.
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12
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Grafskaia EN, Nadezhdin KD, Talyzina IA, Polina NF, Podgorny OV, Pavlova ER, Bashkirov PV, Kharlampieva DD, Bobrovsky PA, Latsis IA, Manuvera VA, Babenko VV, Trukhan VM, Arseniev AS, Klinov DV, Lazarev VN. Medicinal leech antimicrobial peptides lacking toxicity represent a promising alternative strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 180:143-153. [PMID: 31302447 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.06.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic resistance has necessitated the development of alternative strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), components of the innate immune response in various organisms, are promising next-generation drugs against bacterial infections. The ability of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis to store blood for months with little change has attracted interest regarding the identification of novel AMPs in this organism. In this study, we employed computational algorithms to the medicinal leech genome assembly to identify amino acid sequences encoding potential AMPs. Then, we synthesized twelve candidate AMPs identified by the algorithms, determined their secondary structures, measured minimal inhibitory concentrations against three bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Chlamydia thrachomatis), and assayed cytotoxic and haemolytic activities. Eight of twelve candidate AMPs possessed antimicrobial activity, and only two of them, 3967 (FRIMRILRVLKL) and 536-1 (RWRLVCFLCRRKKV), exhibited inhibition of growth of all tested bacterial species at a minimal inhibitory concentration of 10 μmol. Thus, we evidence the utility of the developed computational algorithms for the identification of AMPs with low toxicity and haemolytic activity in the medicinal leech genome assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- E N Grafskaia
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia.
| | - K D Nadezhdin
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia; M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - I A Talyzina
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Federal State Budget Educational Institution of Higher Education, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University (Lomonosov MSU), Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - N F Polina
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - O V Podgorny
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - E R Pavlova
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - P V Bashkirov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - D D Kharlampieva
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - P A Bobrovsky
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - I A Latsis
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - V A Manuvera
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - V V Babenko
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - V M Trukhan
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, 119146, Russia
| | - A S Arseniev
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia; M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - D V Klinov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - V N Lazarev
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
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13
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Roberson MG, Smith DK, White SM, Wallace IS, Tucker MJ. Interspecies Bombolitins Exhibit Structural Diversity upon Membrane Binding, Leading to Cell Specificity. Biophys J 2019; 116:1064-1074. [PMID: 30824115 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Bombolitins, a class of peptides produced by bees of the genus Bombus, target and disrupt cellular membranes, leading to lysis. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit various mechanisms of action resulting from the interplay between peptide structure, lipid composition, and cellular target membrane selectivity. Herein, two bombolitins displaying significant amino-acid-sequence similarity, BII and BL6, were assessed for antimicrobial activity as well as correlated dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelle binding and membrane-induced peptide conformational changes. Infrared and circular dichroism spectroscopies were used to assess the structure-function relationship of each bombolitin, and the results indicate that BII forms a rigid and helically ordered secondary structure upon binding to DPC micelles, whereas BL6 largely lacks secondary structural order. Moreover, the binding affinity of each peptide to DPC micelles was determined, revealing that BL6 displayed a difference in binding affinity by over two orders of magnitude. Further investigations into the growth-inhibitory activity of the two bombolitins were performed against Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interestingly, BII specifically targeted S. cerevisiae, whereas BL6 more effectively inhibited E. coli growth. Overall, the antimicrobial selectivity and specificity of BII and BL6 are largely dependent on the primary as well as secondary structural content of the peptides and the membrane composition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Devin K Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
| | - Simon M White
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada
| | - Ian S Wallace
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada.
| | - Matthew J Tucker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada.
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14
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The lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid induces folding of disordered peptides with basic amphipathic character into rare conformations. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14499. [PMID: 30266943 PMCID: PMC6162328 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32786-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane-active, basic amphipathic peptides represent a class of biomolecules with diverse functions. Sequentially close protein segments also show similar behaviour in several ways. Here we investigated the effect of the lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on the conformation of structurally disordered peptides including extracellular antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and calmodulin-binding motifs derived from cytosolic and membrane target proteins. The interaction with associated LPA resulted in gain of ordered secondary structure elements, which for most cases were previously uncharacteristic of the particular peptide. Results revealed mechanism of the LPA-peptide interactions with regulation of the lipid on peptide conformation and oligomerization in a concentration-dependent manner involving (1) relocation of tryptophan residues into the lipid cluster, (2) multiple contacts between the binding partners dictated by complex driving forces, (3) multiple peptide binding to LPA associates with an affinity in the low micromolar range, and (4) selectivity for LPA compared with structurally related lipids. In line with recent findings showing endogenous molecules inducing structural changes in AMPs, we propose that accumulation of LPA in signalling or pathological processes might modulate host-defense activity or trigger certain processes by direct interaction with cationic amphipathic peptide sequences.
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15
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Shi Y, Wan M, Fu L, Zhang S, Wang S, Gao L, Fang W. Peptide-Lipid Interaction Sites Affect Vesicles' Responses to Antimicrobial Peptides. Biophys J 2018; 115:1518-1529. [PMID: 30268538 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This article presents coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of pore-forming antimicrobial peptide melittin and its interactions with vesicles composed of a mixture of zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids. Besides creating holes in the membrane, the adsorption of melittin also induces vesicle budding, which can develop into vesiculation at high peptide concentrations, as well as vesicle invagination, which can eventually result in a corrugated membrane surface. These rich morphology changes are mediated by the curvature of the vesicles and the peptide concentration. Highly curved vesicles favor the recruitment of melittins with a higher density of binding sites. The peptides mainly penetrate into the membrane surface in monomers via hydrophobic interaction. Lowly curved vesicles recruit melittins with a low density of binding sites. Surplus peptides are prone to form oligomers and shallowly adsorb on the surface of membrane via electrostatic interaction. The penetration of monomers induces membrane pore formation and positive membrane curvature, which promote vesicle budding. The adsorption of oligomers induces negative membrane curvature, which promotes vesicle invagination. This work demonstrates that antimicrobial peptides adopt multiple actions to destroy bacterial membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shi
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingwei Wan
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Fu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Lianghui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Weihai Fang
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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16
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Grosjean K, Der C, Robert F, Thomas D, Mongrand S, Simon-Plas F, Gerbeau-Pissot P. Interactions between lipids and proteins are critical for organization of plasma membrane-ordered domains in tobacco BY-2 cells. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:3545-3557. [PMID: 29722895 PMCID: PMC6022670 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The laterally heterogeneous plant plasma membrane (PM) is organized into finely controlled specialized areas that include membrane-ordered domains. Recently, the spatial distribution of such domains within the PM has been identified as playing a key role in cell responses to environmental challenges. To examine membrane order at a local level, BY-2 tobacco suspension cell PMs were labelled with an environment-sensitive probe (di-4-ANEPPDHQ). Four experimental models were compared to identify mechanisms and cell components involved in short-term (1 h) maintenance of the ordered domain organization in steady-state cell PMs: modulation of the cytoskeleton or the cell wall integrity of tobacco BY-2 cells; and formation of giant vesicles using either a lipid mixture of tobacco BY-2 cell PMs or the original lipid and protein combinations of the tobacco BY-2 cell PM. Whilst inhibiting phosphorylation or disrupting either the cytoskeleton or the cell wall had no observable effects, we found that lipids and proteins significantly modified both the abundance and spatial distribution of ordered domains. This indicates the involvement of intrinsic membrane components in the local physical state of the plant PM. Our findings support a major role for the 'lipid raft' model, defined as the sterol-dependent ordered assemblies of specific lipids and proteins in plant PM organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Grosjean
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Christophe Der
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Franck Robert
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Dominique Thomas
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Sébastien Mongrand
- Laboratoire de Biogenèse Membranaire (LBM), Unité Mixte de Recherche UMR, CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Françoise Simon-Plas
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS, INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
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17
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Saeloh D, Tipmanee V, Jim KK, Dekker MP, Bitter W, Voravuthikunchai SP, Wenzel M, Hamoen LW. The novel antibiotic rhodomyrtone traps membrane proteins in vesicles with increased fluidity. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006876. [PMID: 29451901 PMCID: PMC5833292 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The acylphloroglucinol rhodomyrtone is a promising new antibiotic isolated from the rose myrtle Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, a plant used in Asian traditional medicine. While many studies have demonstrated its antibacterial potential in a variety of clinical applications, very little is known about the mechanism of action of rhodomyrtone. Preceding studies have been focused on intracellular targets, but no specific intracellular protein could be confirmed as main target. Using live cell, high-resolution, and electron microscopy we demonstrate that rhodomyrtone causes large membrane invaginations with a dramatic increase in fluidity, which attract a broad range of membrane proteins. Invaginations then form intracellular vesicles, thereby trapping these proteins. Aberrant protein localization impairs several cellular functions, including the respiratory chain and the ATP synthase complex. Being uncharged and devoid of a particular amphipathic structure, rhodomyrtone did not seem to be a typical membrane-inserting molecule. In fact, molecular dynamics simulations showed that instead of inserting into the bilayer, rhodomyrtone transiently binds to phospholipid head groups and causes distortion of lipid packing, providing explanations for membrane fluidization and induction of membrane curvature. Both its transient binding mode and its ability to form protein-trapping membrane vesicles are unique, making it an attractive new antibiotic candidate with a novel mechanism of action. Bacterial antibiotic resistance constitutes a major public healthcare issue and deaths caused by antimicrobial resistance are expected to soon exceed the number of cancer-related fatalities. In order to fight resistance, new antibiotics have to be developed that are not affected by existing microbial resistance strategies. Thus, antibiotics with novel or multiple targets are urgently needed. Rhodomyrtone displays excellent antibacterial activity, has been safely used in traditional Asian medicine for a long time, and resistance against this promising antibiotic candidate could not be detected in multiple passaging experiments. Here we demonstrate that rhodomyrtone possesses a completely novel mechanism of action, which is opposed to that of existing cell envelope-targeting drugs, minimizing the risk of cross-resistance, and in fact rhodomyrtone is highly active against e.g. vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, rhodomyrtone is an extremely interesting compound for further antibacterial drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennapa Saeloh
- Excellence Research Laboratory on Natural Products, Faculty of Science and Natural Product Research Center of Excellence, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Varomyalin Tipmanee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Kin Ki Jim
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marien P. Dekker
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wilbert Bitter
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Supayang P. Voravuthikunchai
- Excellence Research Laboratory on Natural Products, Faculty of Science and Natural Product Research Center of Excellence, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Michaela Wenzel
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (MW); (LWH)
| | - Leendert W. Hamoen
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (MW); (LWH)
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18
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Wan L, Zhang D, Zhang J, Ren L. TT-1, an analog of melittin, triggers apoptosis in human thyroid cancer TT cells via regulating caspase, Bcl-2 and Bax. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:1271-1278. [PMID: 29387245 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.7366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Melittin is a 26 amino acid residue antimicrobial peptide with known antitumor activity. In the present study, a novel peptide TT-1, derived from melittin and contained only 11 amino acids, was designed, and its antitumor effect was investigated. The present study is aimed to elucidate the effects and relative mechanisms of TT-1 on a human thyroid cancer cell line (TT) in vitro and in vivo. Cell viability assays, Annexin V/propidium iodide assays, western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed. Furthermore, a tumor-xenograft model was established to investigate the apoptotic mechanisms of TT-1 on TT cells. The results obtained indicated that TT-1 was able to suppress the proliferation of TT cells and exhibited low cytotoxicity to normal thyroid cells in vitro. The apoptotic rates of TT cells were also increased following TT-1 treatment. Additionally, TT-1 stimulated caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax, and inhibited B-cell lymphoma 2 mRNA and protein expression. Finally, it was also demonstrated that TT-1 is able to markedly suppress tumor growth in a TT-bearing nude mouse model. In summary, TT-1 may inhibit the proliferation of TT cells by inducing apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, indicating that TT-1 may be a potential candidate for the treatment of thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Wan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130033, P.R. China.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jilin University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Daqi Zhang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Surgical Translational Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130033, P.R. China
| | - Jinnan Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130033, P.R. China
| | - Liqun Ren
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jilin University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
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19
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Socarras KM, Theophilus PAS, Torres JP, Gupta K, Sapi E. Antimicrobial Activity of Bee Venom and Melittin against Borrelia burgdorferi. Antibiotics (Basel) 2017; 6:antibiotics6040031. [PMID: 29186026 PMCID: PMC5745474 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics6040031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease is a tick-borne, multi-systemic disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Though antibiotics are used as a primary treatment, relapse often occurs after the discontinuation of antimicrobial agents. The reason for relapse remains unknown, however previous studies suggest the possible presence of antibiotic resistant Borrelia round bodies, persisters and attached biofilm forms. Thus, there is an urgent need to find antimicrobial agents suitable to eliminate all known forms of B. burgdorferi. In this study, natural antimicrobial agents such as Apis mellifera venom and a known component, melittin, were tested using SYBR Green I/PI, direct cell counting, biofilm assays combined with LIVE/DEAD and atomic force microscopy methods. The obtained results were compared to standalone and combinations of antibiotics such as Doxycycline, Cefoperazone, Daptomycin, which were recently found to be effective against Borrelia persisters. Our findings showed that both bee venom and melittin had significant effects on all the tested forms of B. burgdorferi. In contrast, the control antibiotics when used individually or even in combinations had limited effects on the attached biofilm form. These findings strongly suggest that whole bee venom or melittin could be effective antimicrobial agents for B. burgdorferi; however, further research is necessary to evaluate their effectiveness in vivo, as well as their safe and effective delivery method for their therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla M Socarras
- Lyme Disease Research Group, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Priyanka A S Theophilus
- Lyme Disease Research Group, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Jason P Torres
- Lyme Disease Research Group, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Khusali Gupta
- Lyme Disease Research Group, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Eva Sapi
- Lyme Disease Research Group, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
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20
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Hung A, Kuyucak S, Schroeder CI, Kaas Q. Modelling the interactions between animal venom peptides and membrane proteins. Neuropharmacology 2017; 127:20-31. [PMID: 28778835 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The active components of animal venoms are mostly peptide toxins, which typically target ion channels and receptors of both the central and peripheral nervous system, interfering with action potential conduction and/or synaptic transmission. The high degree of sequence conservation of their molecular targets makes a range of these toxins active at human receptors. The high selectivity and potency displayed by some of these toxins have prompted their use as pharmacological tools as well as drugs or drug leads. Molecular modelling has played an essential role in increasing our molecular-level understanding of the activity and specificity of animal toxins, as well as engineering them for biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. This review focuses on the biological insights gained from computational and experimental studies of animal venom toxins interacting with membranes and ion channels. A host of recent X-ray crystallography and electron-microscopy structures of the toxin targets has contributed to a dramatic increase in the accuracy of the molecular models of toxin binding modes greatly advancing this exciting field of study. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Venom-derived Peptides as Pharmacological Tools.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hung
- School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Serdar Kuyucak
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
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21
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Kolesinska B, Eyer K, Robinson T, Dittrich PS, Beck AK, Seebach D, Walde P. Interaction of β(3) /β(2) -peptides, consisting of Val-Ala-Leu segments, with POPC giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and white blood cancer cells (U937)--a new type of cell-penetrating peptides, and a surprising chain-length dependence of their vesicle- and cell-lysing activity. Chem Biodivers 2016; 12:697-732. [PMID: 26010661 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201500085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Many years ago, β(2) /β(3) -peptides, consisting of alternatively arranged β(2) - and β(3) h-amino-acid residues, have been found to undergo folding to a unique type of helix, the 10/12-helix, and to exhibit non-polar, lipophilic properties (Helv. Chim. Acta 1997, 80, 2033). We have now synthesized such 'mixed' hexa-, nona-, dodeca-, and octadecapeptides, consisting of Val-Ala-Leu triads, with N-terminal fluorescein (FAM) labels, i.e., 1-4, and studied their interactions with POPC (=1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and with human white blood cancer cells U937. The methods used were microfluidic technology, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), a flow-cytometry assay, a membrane-toxicity assay with the dehydrogenase G6PDH as enzymatic reporter, and visual microscopy observations. All β(3) /β(2) -peptide derivatives penetrate the GUVs and/or the cells. As shown with the isomeric β(3) /β(2) -, β(3) -, and β(2) -nonamers, 2, 5, and 6, respectively, the derivatives 5 and 6 consisting exclusively of β(3) - or β(2) -amino-acid residues, respectively, interact neither with the vesicles nor with the cells. Depending on the method of investigation and on the pretreatment of the cells, the β(3) /β(2) -nonamer and/or the β(3) /β(2) -dodecamer derivative, 2 and/or 3, respectively, cause a surprising disintegration or lysis of the GUVs and cells, comparable with the action of tensides, viral fusion peptides, and host-defense antimicrobial peptides. Possible sources of the chain-length-dependent destructive potential of the β(3) /β(2) -nona- and β(3) /β(2) -dodecapeptide derivatives, and a possible relationship with the phosphate-to-phosphate and hydrocarbon thicknesses of GUVs, and eukaryotic cells are discussed. Further investigations with other types of GUVs and of eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells will be necessary to elucidate the mechanism(s) of interaction of 'mixed' β(3) /β(2) -peptides with membranes and to evaluate possible biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Kolesinska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technical University of Łodz, Zeromskiego 116, PL-90-924 Łodz (phone: +48-42-631-3149).
| | - Klaus Eyer
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, (phone: +41-44-632-2990; fax: +41-44-632-114).,École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielle de la Ville de Paris, 10 Rue de Vauquelin, FR-75005 Paris
| | - Tom Robinson
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, (phone: +41-44-632-2990; fax: +41-44-632-114).,Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Am Mühlenberg 1, DE-14476 Potsdam-Golm
| | - Petra S Dittrich
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, (phone: +41-44-632-2990; fax: +41-44-632-114).
| | - Albert K Beck
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, (phone: +41-44-632-2990; fax: +41-44-632-114)
| | - Dieter Seebach
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, (phone: +41-44-632-2990; fax: +41-44-632-114).
| | - Peter Walde
- Institut für Polymere, Departement Materialwissenschaft, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, CH-8093 Zürich, (phone: +41-44-632-0473; fax: +41-44-632-126).
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22
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Jamasbi E, Ciccotosto GD, Tailhades J, Robins-Browne RM, Ugalde CL, Sharples RA, Patil N, Wade JD, Hossain MA, Separovic F. Site of fluorescent label modifies interaction of melittin with live cells and model membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2015; 1848:2031-9. [PMID: 26051124 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2015] [Revised: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The mechanism of membrane disruption by melittin (MLT) of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and live cells was studied using fluorescence microscopy and two fluorescent synthetic analogues of MLT. The N-terminus of one of these was acylated with thiopropionic acid to enable labeling with maleimido-AlexaFluor 430 to study the interaction of MLT with live cells. It was compared with a second analogue labeled at P14C. The results indicated that the fluorescent peptides adhered to the membrane bilayer of phosphatidylcholine GUVs and inserted into the plasma membrane of HeLa cells. Fluorescence and light microscopy revealed changes in cell morphology after exposure to MLT peptides and showed bleb formation in the plasma membrane of HeLa cells. However, the membrane disruptive effect was dependent upon the location of the fluorescent label on the peptide and was greater when MLT was labeled at the N-terminus. Proline at position 14 appeared to be important for antimicrobial activity, hemolysis and cytotoxicity, but not essential for cell membrane disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Jamasbi
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | | | - Julien Tailhades
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Roy M Robins-Browne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Cathryn L Ugalde
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Robyn A Sharples
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Nitin Patil
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - John D Wade
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Frances Separovic
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
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23
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de Melo ET, Estrela AB, Santos ECG, Machado PRL, Farias KJS, Torres TM, Carvalho E, Lima JPMS, Silva-Júnior AA, Barbosa EG, Fernandes-Pedrosa MDF. Structural characterization of a novel peptide with antimicrobial activity from the venom gland of the scorpion Tityus stigmurus: Stigmurin. Peptides 2015; 68:3-10. [PMID: 25805002 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2015.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Revised: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
A new antimicrobial peptide, herein named Stigmurin, was selected based on a transcriptomic analysis of the Brazilian yellow scorpion Tityus stigmurus venom gland, an underexplored source for toxic peptides with possible biotechnological applications. Stigmurin was investigated in silico, by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and in vitro. The CD spectra suggested that this peptide interacts with membranes, changing its conformation in the presence of an amphipathic environment, with predominance of random coil and beta-sheet structures. Stigmurin exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activity, with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 8.7 to 69.5μM. It was also showed that Stigmurin is toxic against SiHa and Vero E6 cell lines. The results suggest that Stigmurin can be considered a potential anti-infective drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edinara Targino de Melo
- Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Andréia Bergamo Estrela
- Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Taffarel Melo Torres
- Departamento de Ciências Animais, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Enéas Carvalho
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Arnóbio Antonio Silva-Júnior
- Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Matheus de Freitas Fernandes-Pedrosa
- Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
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24
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Li J, Zhang H, Qiu F, Yang Y, Chen JZY. Conformation of a charged vesicle. SOFT MATTER 2015; 11:1788-1793. [PMID: 25608843 DOI: 10.1039/c4sm02282c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We report on the first systematic study of vesicle conformational change caused by Coulomb interaction between surface charges on a lipid vesicle. The equilibrium configuration of a charged vesicle is found, as the result of the competition between the local bending elastic energy and the long-range electrostatic interaction within the membrane where the counter-ion effects are neglected. Because of the Rayleigh instability, a charged vesicle undergoes conformational transitions as a function of the surface charge density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
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25
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Sun D, Sun M, Zhu W, Wang Z, Li Y, Ma J. The anti-cancer potency and mechanism of a novel tumor-activated fused toxin, DLM. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:423-38. [PMID: 25658509 PMCID: PMC4344633 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7020423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Melittin, which acts as a membrane-disrupting lytic peptide, is not only cytotoxic to tumors, but also vital to normal cells. Melittin had low toxicity when coupled with target peptides. Despite significant research development with the fused toxin, a new fused toxin is needed which has a cleavable linker such that the fused toxin can release melittin after protease cleavage on the tumor cell surface. We describe a novel fused toxin, composed of disintegrin, uPA (urokinase-type plasminogen activator)-cleavable linker, and melittin. Disintegrin is a single strand peptide (73 aa) isolated from Gloydius Ussuriensis venom. The RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) site of disintegrin dominates its interaction with integrins on the surface of the tumor cells. uPA is over-expressed and plays an important role in tumor cell invasiveness and metastatic progression. The DLM (disintegrin-linker-melittin) linker is uPA-cleavable, enabling DLM to release melittin. We compared binding activity of our synthesized disintegrin with native disintegrin and report that DLM had less binding activity than the native form. uPA-cleavage was evaluated in vitro and the uPA-cleavable linker released melittin. Treating tumors expressing uPA with DLM enhanced tumor cell killing as well as reduced toxicity to erythrocytes and other non-cancerous normal cells. The mechanism behind DLM tumor cell killing was tested using a DNA ladder assay, fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, and transmission electron microscopy. Data revealed tumor cell necrosis as the mechanism of cell death, and the fused DLM toxin with an uPA-cleavable linker enhanced tumor selectivity and killing ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejun Sun
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute for Regeneration Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | - Miaonan Sun
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute for Regeneration Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | - Wenhe Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Basic Medicine, Jilin Medical College, Jilin 130000, China.
| | - Zhiding Wang
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute for Regeneration Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | - Yuefei Li
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute for Regeneration Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | - Jie Ma
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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26
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Kato N, Ishijima A, Inaba T, Nomura F, Takeda S, Takiguchi K. Effects of lipid composition and solution conditions on the mechanical properties of membrane vesicles. MEMBRANES 2015; 5:22-47. [PMID: 25611306 PMCID: PMC4384090 DOI: 10.3390/membranes5010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Revised: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical properties of cell-sized giant unilamellar liposomes were studied by manipulating polystyrene beads encapsulated within the liposomes using double-beam laser tweezers. Mechanical forces were applied to the liposomes from within by moving the beads away from each other, which caused the liposomes to elongate. Subsequently, a tubular membrane projection was generated in the tip at either end of the liposome, or the bead moved out from the laser trap. The force required for liposome transformation reached maximum strength just before formation of the projection or the moving out of the bead. By employing this manipulation system, we investigated the effects of membrane lipid compositions and environment solutions on the mechanical properties. With increasing content of acidic phospholipids, such as phosphatidylglycerol or phosphatidic acid, a larger strength of force was required for the liposome transformation. Liposomes prepared with a synthetic dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, which has uniform hydrocarbon chains, were transformed easily compared with liposomes prepared using natural phosphatidylcholine. Surprisingly, bovine serum albumin or fetuin (soluble proteins that do not bind to membranes) decreased liposomal membrane rigidity, whereas the same concentration of sucrose showed no particular effect. These results show that the mechanical properties of liposomes depend on their lipid composition and environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhiko Kato
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
| | - Akihiko Ishijima
- Institute of Multidisciplinary, Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
| | - Takehiko Inaba
- Lipid Biology Laboratory, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
| | - Fumimasa Nomura
- Department of Biomedical Information, Division of Biosystems, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan.
| | - Shuichi Takeda
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
| | - Kingo Takiguchi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
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Zupanc J, Drašler B, Boljte S, Kralj-Iglič V, Iglič A, Erdogmus D, Drobne D. Lipid vesicle shape analysis from populations using light video microscopy and computer vision. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113405. [PMID: 25426933 PMCID: PMC4245123 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a method for giant lipid vesicle shape analysis that combines manually guided large-scale video microscopy and computer vision algorithms to enable analyzing vesicle populations. The method retains the benefits of light microscopy and enables non-destructive analysis of vesicles from suspensions containing up to several thousands of lipid vesicles (1–50 µm in diameter). For each sample, image analysis was employed to extract data on vesicle quantity and size distributions of their projected diameters and isoperimetric quotients (measure of contour roundness). This process enables a comparison of samples from the same population over time, or the comparison of a treated population to a control. Although vesicles in suspensions are heterogeneous in sizes and shapes and have distinctively non-homogeneous distribution throughout the suspension, this method allows for the capture and analysis of repeatable vesicle samples that are representative of the population inspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jernej Zupanc
- Seyens Ltd., Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- * E-mail:
| | - Barbara Drašler
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sabina Boljte
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Aleš Iglič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Deniz Erdogmus
- Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Damjana Drobne
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Jamasbi E, Batinovic S, Sharples RA, Sani MA, Robins-Browne RM, Wade JD, Separovic F, Hossain MA. Melittin peptides exhibit different activity on different cells and model membranes. Amino Acids 2014; 46:2759-66. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-014-1833-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Hagiya M, Konagaya A, Kobayashi S, Saito H, Murata S. Molecular robots with sensors and intelligence. Acc Chem Res 2014; 47:1681-90. [PMID: 24905779 DOI: 10.1021/ar400318d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
CONSPECTUS: What we can call a molecular robot is a set of molecular devices such as sensors, logic gates, and actuators integrated into a consistent system. The molecular robot is supposed to react autonomously to its environment by receiving molecular signals and making decisions by molecular computation. Building such a system has long been a dream of scientists; however, despite extensive efforts, systems having all three functions (sensing, computation, and actuation) have not been realized yet. This Account introduces an ongoing research project that focuses on the development of molecular robotics funded by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan). This 5 year project started in July 2012 and is titled "Development of Molecular Robots Equipped with Sensors and Intelligence". The major issues in the field of molecular robotics all correspond to a feedback (i.e., plan-do-see) cycle of a robotic system. More specifically, these issues are (1) developing molecular sensors capable of handling a wide array of signals, (2) developing amplification methods of signals to drive molecular computing devices, (3) accelerating molecular computing, (4) developing actuators that are controllable by molecular computers, and (5) providing bodies of molecular robots encapsulating the above molecular devices, which implement the conformational changes and locomotion of the robots. In this Account, the latest contributions to the project are reported. There are four research teams in the project that specialize on sensing, intelligence, amoeba-like actuation, and slime-like actuation, respectively. The molecular sensor team is focusing on the development of molecular sensors that can handle a variety of signals. This team is also investigating methods to amplify signals from the molecular sensors. The molecular intelligence team is developing molecular computers and is currently focusing on a new photochemical technology for accelerating DNA-based computations. They also introduce novel computational models behind various kinds of molecular computers necessary for designing such computers. The amoeba robot team aims at constructing amoeba-like robots. The team is trying to incorporate motor proteins, including kinesin and microtubules (MTs), for use as actuators implemented in a liposomal compartment as a robot body. They are also developing a methodology to link DNA-based computation and molecular motor control. The slime robot team focuses on the development of slime-like robots. The team is evaluating various gels, including DNA gel and BZ gel, for use as actuators, as well as the body material to disperse various molecular devices in it. They also try to control the gel actuators by DNA signals coming from molecular computers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masami Hagiya
- Department
of Computer Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan,
| | - Akihiko Konagaya
- Department
of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuda, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8502 Japan
| | - Satoshi Kobayashi
- Department
of Communication Engineering and Informatics, University of Electro-Communications, 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu,
Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
| | - Hirohide Saito
- Center
for iPS Cell Research and Application/The Hakubi Center for Advanced
Research, Kyoto University, 53 Shyogoin-kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Satoshi Murata
- Department
of Bioengineering and Robotics, Tohoku University, 6-6-1 Aobayama, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
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Albini M, Dinarelli S, Pennella F, Romeo S, Zampetti E, Girasole M, Morbiducci U, Massa R, Ramundo-Orlando A. Induced movements of giant vesicles by millimeter wave radiation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2014; 1838:1710-8. [PMID: 24704354 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2014.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Our previous study of interaction between low intensity radiation at 53.37GHz and cell-size system - such as giant vesicles - indicated that a vectorial movement of vesicles was induced. This effect among others, i.e. elongation, induced diffusion of fluorescent dye di-8-ANEPPS, and increased attractions between vesicles was attributed to the action of the field on charged and dipolar residues located at the membrane-water interface. In an attempt to improve the understanding on how millimeter wave radiation (MMW) can induce this movement we report here a real time evaluation of changes induced on the movement of giant vesicles. Direct optical observations of vesicles subjected to irradiation enabled the monitoring in real time of the response of vesicles. Changes of the direction of vesicle movement are demonstrated, which occur only during irradiation with a "switch on" of the effect. This MMW-induced effect was observed at a larger extent on giant vesicles prepared with negatively charged phospholipids. The monitoring of induced-by-irradiation temperature variation and numerical dosimetry indicate that the observed effects in vesicle movement cannot be attributed to local heating.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Francesco Pennella
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Umberto Morbiducci
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy
| | - Rita Massa
- Department of Physics, University Federico II, 89126 Naples, Italy
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