1
|
Costa ISD, Junot T, Silva FL, Felix W, Cardozo Fh JL, Pereira de Araujo AF, Pais do Amaral C, Gonçalves S, Santos NC, Leite JRSA, Bloch C, Brand GD. Occurrence and evolutionary conservation analysis of α-helical cationic amphiphilic segments in the human proteome. FEBS J 2024; 291:547-565. [PMID: 37945538 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The existence of encrypted fragments with antimicrobial activity in human proteins has been thoroughly demonstrated in the literature. Recently, algorithms for the large-scale identification of these segments in whole proteomes were developed, and the pervasiveness of this phenomenon was stated. These algorithms typically mine encrypted cationic and amphiphilic segments of proteins, which, when synthesized as individual polypeptide sequences, exert antimicrobial activity by membrane disruption. In the present report, the human reference proteome was submitted to the software kamal for the uncovering of protein segments that correspond to putative intragenic antimicrobial peptides (IAPs). The assessment of the identity of these segments, frequency, functional classes of parent proteins, structural relevance, and evolutionary conservation of amino acid residues within their corresponding proteins was conducted in silico. Additionally, the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of six selected synthetic peptides was evaluated. Our results indicate that cationic and amphiphilic segments can be found in 2% of all human proteins, but are more common in transmembrane and peripheral membrane proteins. These segments are surface-exposed basic patches whose amino acid residues present similar conservation scores to other residues with similar solvent accessibility. Moreover, the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of the synthetic putative IAP sequences was irrespective to whether these are associated to membranes in the cellular setting. Our study discusses these findings in light of the current understanding of encrypted peptide sequences, offering some insights into the relevance of these segments to the organism in the context of their harboring proteins or as separate polypeptide sequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Igor S D Costa
- Laboratório de Síntese e Análise de Biomoléculas - LSAB, Instituto de Química, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
| | - Tiago Junot
- Laboratório de Síntese e Análise de Biomoléculas - LSAB, Instituto de Química, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
| | - Fernanda L Silva
- Laboratório de Síntese e Análise de Biomoléculas - LSAB, Instituto de Química, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
| | - Wanessa Felix
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Morfologia e Imunologia Aplicada - NuPMIA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
| | - José L Cardozo Fh
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa - LEM, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Antonio F Pereira de Araujo
- Laboratório de Biofísica Teórica e Computacional, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Sónia Gonçalves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuno C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José R S A Leite
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Morfologia e Imunologia Aplicada - NuPMIA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
| | - Carlos Bloch
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa - LEM, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Guilherme D Brand
- Laboratório de Síntese e Análise de Biomoléculas - LSAB, Instituto de Química, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abd El-Aal AAA, Jayakumar FA, Reginald K. Dual-action potential of cationic cryptides against infections and cancers. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103764. [PMID: 37689179 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Cryptides are a subfamily of bioactive peptides embedded latently in their parent proteins and have multiple biological functions. Cationic cryptides could be used as modern drugs in both infectious diseases and cancers because their mechanism of action is less likely to be affected by genetic mutations in the treated cells, therefore addressing a current unmet need in these two areas of medicine. In this review, we present the current understanding of cryptides, methods to mine them sustainably using available online databases and prediction tools, with a particular focus on their antimicrobial and anticancer potential, and their potential applicability in a clinical setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amr A A Abd El-Aal
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Fairen A Jayakumar
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kavita Reginald
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor, Malaysia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ciociola T, Giovati L, Conti S, Magliani W. Anti-Infective Antibody-Derived Peptides Active against Endogenous and Exogenous Fungi. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9010143. [PMID: 33435157 PMCID: PMC7827253 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoses still represent relevant opportunistic infections worldwide, although overshadowed in recent years by other severe and more widespread infections. Moreover, deep-seated mycoses are often accompanied by unacceptably high mortality rates. Etiologic agents include endogenous components of the mycobiota, Candida and Malassezia species above all, and exogenous species, both yeasts and filamentous fungi. Old and new fungal pathogens are increasingly characterized by resistance to the existing antifungal agents, making imperative the search for effective and safe new therapeutics. Among the candidate molecules proposed in recent decades, synthetic peptides derived from the complementarity determining and constant regions of diverse antibodies (Abs), as well as the translated products of Ab-encoding genes, have proved of considerable interest. Their anti-infective activities, regardless of the specificity and isotype of the originating Ab, will be briefly presented and discussed in the light of their different mechanisms of action. Intriguing suggestions on the possible function of Abs after their half-life will be presented, following the recent detection, in human serum, of an antimicrobial Ab-derived peptide. Overall, Abs could represent a source of biologically active, highly flexible peptides, devoid of detectable toxicity, which can be easily synthesized and manipulated to be used, alone or in association with already available drugs, for new anti-infective strategies.
Collapse
|
4
|
Ciociola T, Zanello PP, D’Adda T, Galati S, Conti S, Magliani W, Giovati L. A Peptide Found in Human Serum, Derived from the C-Terminus of Albumin, Shows Antifungal Activity In Vitro and In Vivo. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1627. [PMID: 33096923 PMCID: PMC7588913 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for alternative strategies to combat infections. From this perspective, there is a considerable interest in natural molecules obtained from different sources, which are shown to be active against microorganisms, either alone or in association with conventional drugs. In this paper, peptides with the same sequence of fragments, found in human serum, derived from physiological proteins, were evaluated for their antifungal activity. A 13-residue peptide, representing the 597-609 fragment within the albumin C-terminus, was proved to exert a fungicidal activity in vitro against pathogenic yeasts and a therapeutic effect in vivo in the experimental model of candidal infection in Galleria mellonella. Studies by confocal microscopy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the peptide penetrates and accumulates in Candida albicans cells, causing gross morphological alterations in cellular structure. These findings add albumin to the group of proteins, which already includes hemoglobin and antibodies, that could give rise to cryptic antimicrobial fragments, and could suggest their role in anti-infective homeostasis. The study of bioactive fragments from serum proteins could open interesting perspectives for the development of new antimicrobial molecules derived by natural sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tecla Ciociola
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.C.); (P.P.Z.); (T.D.); (W.M.); (L.G.)
| | - Pier Paolo Zanello
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.C.); (P.P.Z.); (T.D.); (W.M.); (L.G.)
| | - Tiziana D’Adda
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.C.); (P.P.Z.); (T.D.); (W.M.); (L.G.)
| | - Serena Galati
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy;
| | - Stefania Conti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.C.); (P.P.Z.); (T.D.); (W.M.); (L.G.)
| | - Walter Magliani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.C.); (P.P.Z.); (T.D.); (W.M.); (L.G.)
| | - Laura Giovati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.C.); (P.P.Z.); (T.D.); (W.M.); (L.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gaglione R, Cesaro A, Dell'Olmo E, Di Girolamo R, Tartaglione L, Pizzo E, Arciello A. Cryptides Identified in Human Apolipoprotein B as New Weapons to Fight Antibiotic Resistance in Cystic Fibrosis Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E2049. [PMID: 32192076 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic respiratory infections are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, and are characterized by the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype and biofilm formation, generally recalcitrant to treatment with conventional antibiotics. Hence, novel effective strategies are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides represent new promising therapeutic agents. Here, we analyze for the first time the efficacy of three versions of a cryptide identified in human apolipoprotein B (ApoB, residues 887-922) towards bacterial strains clinically isolated from CF patients. Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of ApoB-derived cryptides have been analyzed by broth microdilution assays, crystal violet assays, confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Cell proliferation assays have been performed to test cryptide effects on human host cells. ApoB-derived cryptides have been found to be endowed with significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties towards Pseudomonas and Burkholderia strains clinically isolated from CF patients. Peptides have been also found to be able to act in combination with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, and they are harmless when tested on human bronchial epithelial mesothelial cells. These findings open interesting perspectives to cryptide applicability in the treatment of chronic lung infections associated with CF disease.
Collapse
|
6
|
Ciociola T, Giovati L, Conti S, Magliani W, Santinoli C, Polonelli L. Natural and synthetic peptides with antifungal activity. Future Med Chem 2016; 8:1413-33. [PMID: 27502155 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2016-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the increase of invasive fungal infections and the emergence of antifungal resistance stressed the need for new antifungal drugs. Peptides have shown to be good candidates for the development of alternative antimicrobial agents through high-throughput screening, and subsequent optimization according to a rational approach. This review presents a brief overview on antifungal natural peptides of different sources (animals, plants, micro-organisms), peptide fragments derived by proteolytic cleavage of precursor physiological proteins (cryptides), synthetic unnatural peptides and peptide derivatives. Antifungal peptides are schematically reported based on their structure, antifungal spectrum and reported effects. Natural or synthetic peptides and their modified derivatives may represent the basis for new compounds active against fungal infections.
Collapse
|
7
|
Magliani W, Giovati L, Ciociola T, Sperindè M, Santinoli C, Conti G, Conti S, Polonelli L. Antibodies as a source of anti-infective peptides: an update. Future Microbiol 2015; 10:1163-75. [PMID: 26119210 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.15.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on antibodies (Abs) and their function in immune protection, with particular emphasis on microbicidal Abs. Some aspects of Abs and Ab-drug conjugates as targeting therapeutic agents are also discussed. The main aim, however, is devoted to Ab-derived peptides modulating functions of the immune system and to the latest experimental evidence of Abs as a source of anti-infective and antitumor peptides derived from their complementarity determining regions and constant regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Walter Magliani
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological & Translational Sciences, Microbiology & Virology Unit, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Giovati
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological & Translational Sciences, Microbiology & Virology Unit, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Tecla Ciociola
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological & Translational Sciences, Microbiology & Virology Unit, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Martina Sperindè
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological & Translational Sciences, Microbiology & Virology Unit, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Claudia Santinoli
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological & Translational Sciences, Microbiology & Virology Unit, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Giorgio Conti
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological & Translational Sciences, Microbiology & Virology Unit, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Stefania Conti
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological & Translational Sciences, Microbiology & Virology Unit, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Luciano Polonelli
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological & Translational Sciences, Microbiology & Virology Unit, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mora L, Hayes M. Cardioprotective cryptides derived from fish and other food sources: generation, application, and future markets. J Agric Food Chem 2015; 63:1319-1331. [PMID: 25597264 DOI: 10.1021/jf505019z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The primary function of dietary protein is to provide amino acids for protein synthesis. However, protein is also a source of latent bioactive peptides or cryptides with potential health benefits including the control and regulation of blood pressure. Hypertension or high blood pressure is one of the major, controllable risk factors in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and it is also implicated in the development of myocardial infarction, heart failure, and end-stage diabetes. Cryptides can act on various systems of the body including the circulatory, gastrointestinal (GI), nervous, skeletal, and respiratory systems. A number of studies carried out to date have examined the health benefits of food protein isolates and hydrolysates. This review provides an overview of existing blood pressure regulating peptides and products derived from fish and other protein sources and hydrolysates. It discusses the methods used currently to generate and identify cryptides from these sources and their application in food and pharmaceutical products. It also looks at the current market for protein-derived peptides and peptide-containing products, legislation governing their use, and the future development of research in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Mora
- Instituto de Agroquı́mica y Tecnologı́a de Alimentos (CSIC), Avenida Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|