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Liu Y, Ma X, Mao F, Qiu J, Bi J, Li X, Gu X, Zheng Y, Zhao Y. HMGR and CHS gene cloning, characterizations and tissue-specific expressions in Polygala tenuifolia Willd. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300895. [PMID: 38527035 PMCID: PMC10962832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids have several pharmacological activities against P. tenuifolia. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) and chalcone synthase (CHS) are the rate-limiting enzymes of triterpenoid saponin and flavonoid biosynthesis, respectively. In this study, HMGR and CHS genes were cloned from P. tenuifolia, and their bioinformatics analyses and tissue-specific expression were investigated. The results showed that the HMGR and CHS genes were successfully cloned, separately named the PtHMGR gene (NCBI accession: MK424118) and PtCHS gene (NCBI accession: MK424117). The PtHMGR gene is 2323 bp long, has an open reading frame (ORF) of 1782 bp, and encods 593 amino acids. The PtCHS gene is 1633 bp long with an ORF of 1170 bp, encoding 389 amino acids. PtHMGR and PtCHS were both hydrophobic, not signal peptides or secreted proteins, containing 10 conserved motifs. PtHMGR and PtCHS separately showed high homology with HMGR and CHS proteins from other species, and their secondary structures mainly included α-helix and random curl. The tertiary structure of PtHMGR was highly similarity to that the template 7ULI in RCSB PDB with 92.0% coverage rate. The HMG-CoA-binding domain of PtHMGR is located at 173-572 amino acid residues, including five bound sites. The tertiary structure of PtCHS showed high consistency with the template 1I86 in RCSB PDB with 100% coverage rate, contained malonyl CoA and 4-coumaroyl-CoA linkers. The expression of PtHMGR and PtCHS is tissue-specific. PtHMGR transcripts were mainly accumulated in roots, followed by leaves, and least in stems, and were significantly positively correlated with the contents of total saponin and tenuifolin. PtCHS was highly expressed in the stems, followed by the leaves, with low expression in the roots. PtCHS transcripts showed a significant positive correlation with total flavonoids content, however, they were significantly negatively correlated with the content of polygalaxanthone III (a type of flavonoids). This study provided insight for further revealing the roles of PtHMGR and PtCHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
- International Joint Research Center on Resource Utilization and Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xiaofang Ma
- Yinchuan Women and Children Health Care Hospital, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Fuying Mao
- Experimental Center, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jinmiao Qiu
- College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jingyi Bi
- College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xiaowei Li
- College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xian Gu
- College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yuguang Zheng
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Chemical and Pharmaceutical College, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yunsheng Zhao
- College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
- International Joint Research Center on Resource Utilization and Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
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Wang Y, Chen S, Shi W, Liu S, Chen X, Pan N, Wang X, Su Y, Liu Z. Targeted Affinity Purification and Mechanism of Action of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory Peptides from Sea Cucumber Gonads. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:90. [PMID: 38393061 PMCID: PMC10890666 DOI: 10.3390/md22020090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein hydrolysates from sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) gonads are rich in active materials with remarkable angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. Alcalase was used to hydrolyze sea cucumber gonads, and the hydrolysate was separated by the ultrafiltration membrane to produce a low-molecular-weight peptide component (less than 3 kDa) with good ACE inhibitory activity. The peptide component (less than 3 kDa) was isolated and purified using a combination method of ACE gel affinity chromatography and reverse high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified fractions were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the resulting products were filtered using structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) to obtain 20 peptides. Of those, three noncompetitive inhibitory peptides (DDQIHIF with an IC50 value of 333.5 μmol·L-1, HDWWKER with an IC50 value of 583.6 μmol·L-1, and THDWWKER with an IC50 value of 1291.8 μmol·L-1) were further investigated based on their favorable pharmacochemical properties and ACE inhibitory activity. Molecular docking studies indicated that the three peptides were entirely enclosed within the ACE protein cavity, improving the overall stability of the complex through interaction forces with the ACE active site. The total free binding energies (ΔGtotal) for DDQIHIF, HDWWKER, and THDWWKER were -21.9 Kcal·mol-1, -71.6 Kcal·mol-1, and -69.1 Kcal·mol-1, respectively. Furthermore, a short-term assay of antihypertensive activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) revealed that HDWWKER could significantly decrease the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of SHRs after intravenous administration. The results showed that based on the better antihypertensive activity of the peptide in SHRs, the feasibility of targeted affinity purification and computer-aided drug discovery (CADD) for the efficient screening and preparation of ACE inhibitory peptide was verified, which provided a new idea of modern drug development method for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangduo Wang
- College of Food Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 202206, China; (Y.W.); (W.S.)
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and High-Value Utilization of Marine Organisms, Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Xiamen 361013, China; (S.L.); (X.C.); (N.P.); (X.W.)
| | - Shicheng Chen
- Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, College of Health and Human Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60015, USA;
| | - Wenzheng Shi
- College of Food Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 202206, China; (Y.W.); (W.S.)
| | - Shuji Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and High-Value Utilization of Marine Organisms, Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Xiamen 361013, China; (S.L.); (X.C.); (N.P.); (X.W.)
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and High-Value Utilization of Marine Organisms, Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Xiamen 361013, China; (S.L.); (X.C.); (N.P.); (X.W.)
| | - Nan Pan
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and High-Value Utilization of Marine Organisms, Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Xiamen 361013, China; (S.L.); (X.C.); (N.P.); (X.W.)
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and High-Value Utilization of Marine Organisms, Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Xiamen 361013, China; (S.L.); (X.C.); (N.P.); (X.W.)
| | - Yongchang Su
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and High-Value Utilization of Marine Organisms, Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Xiamen 361013, China; (S.L.); (X.C.); (N.P.); (X.W.)
| | - Zhiyu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and High-Value Utilization of Marine Organisms, Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Xiamen 361013, China; (S.L.); (X.C.); (N.P.); (X.W.)
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Saini S, Rathore A, Sharma S, Saini A. Exploratory data analysis of physicochemical parameters of natural antimicrobial and anticancer peptides: Unraveling the patterns and trends for the rational design of novel peptides. BIOIMPACTS : BI 2023; 14:26438. [PMID: 38327633 PMCID: PMC10844588 DOI: 10.34172/bi.2023.26438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Peptide-based research has attained new avenues in the antibiotics and cancer drug resistance era. The basis of peptide design research lies in playing with or altering physicochemical parameters. Here in this work, we have done exploratory data analysis (EDA) of physicochemical parameters of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and anticancer peptides (ACPs), two promising therapeutics for microbial and cancer drug resistance to deduce patterns and trends. Methods Briefly, we have captured the natural AMPs and ACPs data from the APD3 database. After cleaning the data manually and by CD-HIT web server, further data analysis has been done using Python-based packages, modlAMP and Pandas. We have extracted the descriptive statistics of 10 physicochemical parameters of AMPs and ACPs to build a comprehensive dataset containing all major parameters. The global analysis of datasets has been done using modlAMP to find the initial patterns in global data. The subsets of AMPs and ACPs were curated based on the length of the peptides and were analyzed by Pandas package to deduce the graphical profile of AMPs and ACPs. Results EDA of AMPs and ACPs shows selectivity in the length and amino acid compositions. The distribution of physicochemical parameters in defined quartile ranges was observed in the descriptive statistical and graphical analysis. The preferred length range of AMPs and ACPs was found to be 21-30 amino acids, whereas few outliers in each parameter were evident after EDA analysis. Conclusion The derived patterns from natural AMPs and ACPs can be used for the rational design of novel peptides. The statistical and graphical data distribution findings will help in combining the different parameters for potent design of novel AMPs and ACPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Saini
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Sector 25, Chandigarh 160014, India
- Department of Bioinformatics, Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma College, Sector 32-C, Chandigarh 160030, India
| | - Aayushi Rathore
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Biotech Park, Bengaluru 560100, India
| | - Sheetal Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Sector 25, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Avneet Saini
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Sector 25, Chandigarh 160014, India
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Ozgul M, Nesburn AB, Nasralla N, Katz B, Taylan E, Kuppermann BD, Kenney MC. Stability Determination of Intact Humanin-G with Characterizations of Oxidation and Dimerization Patterns. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030515. [PMID: 36979450 PMCID: PMC10046509 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Humanin is the first identified mitochondrial-derived peptide. Humanin-G (HNG) is a variant of Humanin that has significantly higher cytoprotective properties. Here, we describe the stability features of HNG in different conditions and characterize HNG degradation, oxidation, and dimerization patterns over short-term and long-term periods. HNG solutions were prepared in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) water or MO formulation and stored at either 4 °C or 37 °C. Stored HNG samples were analyzed using HPLC and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Using HPLC, full-length HNG peptides in HPLC water decreased significantly with time and higher temperature, while HNG in MO formulation remained stable up to 95% at 4 °C on day 28. HNG peptides in HPLC water, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and MO formulation were incubated at 37 °C and analyzed at day 1, day 7 and day 14 using HRMS. Concentrations of full-length HNG peptide in HPLC water and PBS declined over time with a corresponding appearance of new peaks that increased over time. These new peaks were identified to be singly oxidized HNG, doubly oxidized HNG, homodimerized HNG, singly oxidized homodimerized HNG, and doubly oxidized homodimerized HNG. Our results may help researchers improve the experimental design to further understand the critical role of HNG in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Ozgul
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Correspondence: (M.O.); (M.C.K.)
| | - Anthony B. Nesburn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | | | - Benjamin Katz
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Enes Taylan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Baruch D. Kuppermann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Maria Cristina Kenney
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Correspondence: (M.O.); (M.C.K.)
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Li R, Wu J, He F, Xu Q, Yin K, Li S, Li W, Wei A, Zhang L, Zhang XH, Zhang B. Rational design, synthesis, antifungal evaluation and docking studies of antifungal peptide CGA-N12 analogues based on the target CtKRE9. Bioorg Chem 2023; 132:106355. [PMID: 36669359 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Candida tropicalis is a major non-albicans species that causes invasive candidiasis. CGA-N12, an anti-Candida peptide found by our group, disrupted cell wall architecture by inhibiting the activity of the protein killer-resistant 9 (KRE9), a β-1,6-glucan synthase specific to Candida spp. and plants. Herein, a set of CGA-N12 analogues were rationally designed based on the interaction networks between CGA-N12 and C. tropicalis KRE9 (CtKRE9). Seven CGA-N12 analogues with significantly improved antifungal activity against C. tropicalis were screened by reducing the docking energy of CGA-N12 and CtKRE9 and increasing the number of positive charges on CGA-N12 based on a stable three-dimensional model of CtKRE9. CGA-N12 and its analogues exhibited antifungal activity against C. tropicalis and its persist cells; they also inhibited biofilm formation and eradicated preformed biofilms. Compared with fluconazole, they displayed higher activities against the growth of persister cells and more effective preformed biofilm eradication. Among them, CGA-N12-0801, CGA-N12-0902 and CGA-N12-1002 displayed much higher activity and anti-proteinase digestion stability than CGA-N12. Specifically, CGA-N12-0801 was the optimal analogue, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 3.46 μg/mL and a therapeutic index of 158.07. The results of electronic microscopy observations and KRE9 activity inhibition assays showed that CGA-N12 and its analogues killed C. tropicalis by disrupting the architecture of the cell wall and the integrity of the cell membrane. In conclusion, for the first time, we provide a simple and reliable method for the rational design of antimicrobial peptides and ideal candidates for treating Candida infections that not effectively eliminated by azole drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifang Li
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China.
| | - Jiasha Wu
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Fuyang He
- School of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Qingpeng Xu
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Kedong Yin
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Shang Li
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Weitong Li
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Ao Wei
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Lan Zhang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Xin-Hui Zhang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Beibei Zhang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Henan University of Technology, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China.
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Shahraki PZ, Farrokh P. PL‐101‐WK
, a novel tryptophan‐ and lysine‐rich peptide with antimicrobial activity against
Staphylococcus aureus. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Parisa Farrokh
- School of Biology Damghan University Damghan Iran
- Institute of Biological Sciences Damghan University Damghan Iran
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Perez-Rodriguez A, Eraso E, Quindós G, Mateo E. Antimicrobial Peptides with Anti-Candida Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169264. [PMID: 36012523 PMCID: PMC9409312 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycoses are accountable for millions of infections yearly worldwide. Invasive candidiasis is the most usual, presenting a high morbidity and mortality. Candida albicans remains the prevalent etiologic agent, but the incidence of other species such as Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata and Candida auris keeps increasing. These pathogens frequently show a reduced susceptibility to commonly used antifungal drugs, including polyenes, triazoles and echinocandins, and the incidence of emerging multi-drug-resistant strains of these species continues to increase. Therefore, the need to search for new molecules that target these pathogenic species in a different manner is now more urgent than ever. Nature is an almost endless source of interesting new molecules that could meet this need. Among these molecules, antimicrobial peptides, present in different sources in nature, possess some advantages over conventional antifungal agents, even with their own drawbacks, and are considered as a promising pharmacological option against a wide range of microbial infections. In this review, we describe 20 antimicrobial peptides from different origins that possess an activity against Candida.
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Rational Discovery of Antimicrobial Peptides by Means of Artificial Intelligence. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12070708. [PMID: 35877911 PMCID: PMC9320227 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12070708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health problem due to the costs and mortality rates it generates. However, the large pharmaceutical industries have stopped searching for new antibiotics because of their low profitability, given the rapid replacement rates imposed by the increasingly observed resistance acquired by microorganisms. Alternatively, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as potent molecules with a much lower rate of resistance generation. The discovery of these peptides is carried out through extensive in vitro screenings of either rational or non-rational libraries. These processes are tedious and expensive and generate only a few AMP candidates, most of which fail to show the required activity and physicochemical properties for practical applications. This work proposes implementing an artificial intelligence algorithm to reduce the required experimentation and increase the efficiency of high-activity AMP discovery. Our deep learning (DL) model, called AMPs-Net, outperforms the state-of-the-art method by 8.8% in average precision. Furthermore, it is highly accurate to predict the antibacterial and antiviral capacity of a large number of AMPs. Our search led to identifying two unreported antimicrobial motifs and two novel antimicrobial peptides related to them. Moreover, by coupling DL with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we were able to find a multifunctional peptide with promising therapeutic effects. Our work validates our previously proposed pipeline for a more efficient rational discovery of novel AMPs.
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Li X, Hu Q, Lin Q, Luo J, Xu J, Chen L, Xu L, Lin X. Inhibition of Candida albicans in vivo and in vitro by antimicrobial peptides chromogranin A-N12 through microRNA-155/suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 axis. Bioengineered 2022; 13:2513-2524. [PMID: 35034584 PMCID: PMC8973978 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.2017680] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have proven to inhibit a variety of pathogens. Chromogranin A-N12 (CGA-N12) is a kind of AMP, and it is characterized by stable structure, high anti-Candida activity, and good safety. However, it remains unclear whether CGA-N12 could effectively inhibit the growth of Candida albicans (C. albicans). Colony forming assays were used to measure minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC), and time-kill curve. Disseminated C. albicans rabbit model was established to investigate the influence of CGA-N12 on histological damage. The protein and mRNA levels of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) after treatment were investigated. The MIC and MFC of CGA-N12 against C. albicans was 6 mg/mL. CGA-N12 considerably inhibited germ tube formation of C. albicans. The fungal load in the tissues and inflammatory factors in the serum were suppressed by CGA-N12. CGA-N12 significantly reduced the histological changes caused by C. albicans, and the protein and mRNA levels of SOCS1 were markedly inhibited. The inhibition effect of CGA-N12 on C. albicans and significant improvement of histological damage by CGA-N12 through microRNA-155/SOCS1 axis were proved in this study. This study proposes a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment and prevention of C. albicans. Abbreviations: AMPs: Antimicrobial peptides; MIC: Minimal inhibitory concentration; MFC: Minimal fungicidal concentration; AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; PBS: Phosphate buffer saline; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; CFU: Colony formation unit; CGA: Chromogranin A; SOCS1: Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1; SDA: Sabouraud Dextrose Agar; GRAVY: Grand average of hydropathicity; C. parapsilosis: Candida parapsilosis; C. albicans: Candida albicans
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Qun Hu
- Department of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Xiang'an Hospital of Xia Men University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qiong Lin
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jianxiong Luo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Junping Xu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Lifang Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Liyu Xu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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10
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Cui J, Chen H, Tang X, Zhang H, Chen YQ, Chen W. Consensus mutagenesis and computational simulation provide insight into the desaturation catalytic mechanism for delta 6 fatty acid desaturase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 586:74-80. [PMID: 34837835 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Fatty acid desaturase (FADS) generates double bond at a certain position of the corresponding polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with high selectivity, the enzyme activity and PUFAs products of which are essential to biological systems and are associated with a variety of physiological diseases. Little is known about the structure of FADSs and their amino acid residues related to catalytic activities. Identifying key residues of Micromonas pusilla delta 6 desaturase (MpFADS6) provides a point of departure for a better understanding of desaturation. In this study, conserved amino acids were anchored through gene consensus analysis, thereby generating corresponding variants by site-directed mutagenesis. To achieve stable and high-efficiency expression of MpFADS6 and its variants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the key points of induced expression were optimized. The contribution of conserved residues to the function of enzyme was determined by analyzing enzyme activity of the variants. Molecular modeling indicated that these residues are essential to catalytic activities, or substrate binding. Mutants MpFADS6[Q409R] and MpFADS6[M242P] abolished desaturation, while MpFADS6[F419V] and MpFADS6[A374Q] significantly reduced catalytic activities. Given that certain residues have been identified to have a significant impact on MpFADS6 activities, it is put forward that histidine-conserved region III of FADS6 is related to electronic transfer during desaturation, while histidine-conserved regions I and II are related to desaturation. These findings provide new insights and methods to determine the structure, mechanism and directed transformation of membrane-bound desaturases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China.
| | - Haiqin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China.
| | - Xin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China.
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; Wuxi Translational Medicine Research Center and Jiangsu Translational Medicine Research Institute Wuxi Branch, Wuxi, 214122, PR China.
| | - Yong Q Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 5, 27127, USA.
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China.
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11
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Accelerated antimicrobial discovery via deep generative models and molecular dynamics simulations. Nat Biomed Eng 2021; 5:613-623. [PMID: 33707779 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00689-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The de novo design of antimicrobial therapeutics involves the exploration of a vast chemical repertoire to find compounds with broad-spectrum potency and low toxicity. Here, we report an efficient computational method for the generation of antimicrobials with desired attributes. The method leverages guidance from classifiers trained on an informative latent space of molecules modelled using a deep generative autoencoder, and screens the generated molecules using deep-learning classifiers as well as physicochemical features derived from high-throughput molecular dynamics simulations. Within 48 days, we identified, synthesized and experimentally tested 20 candidate antimicrobial peptides, of which two displayed high potency against diverse Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens (including multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae) and a low propensity to induce drug resistance in Escherichia coli. Both peptides have low toxicity, as validated in vitro and in mice. We also show using live-cell confocal imaging that the bactericidal mode of action of the peptides involves the formation of membrane pores. The combination of deep learning and molecular dynamics may accelerate the discovery of potent and selective broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
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12
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Li D, Yang Y, Li R, Huang L, Wang Z, Deng Q, Dong S. N-terminal acetylation of antimicrobial peptide L163 improves its stability against protease degradation. J Pept Sci 2021; 27:e3337. [PMID: 33987904 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptide L163 was computationally designed by our laboratory; L163 is active against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria but is easily degraded in the plasma and by trypsin. Amino acid substitution, cyclization, and amino-terminal (N-terminal) acetylation were performed to obtain L163 analogs with high stability in the plasma and in trypsin solutions. The stability, antimicrobial activity, and biosafety of L163 and its analogs were investigated. Comparison with unmodified L163 indicated that N-terminal acetylation enhanced the stability against pH, plasma, and trypsin degradation, and phenylalanine (Phe) substitution for leucine (Leu) and cysteine bridge (S-S) cyclization decreased the stability. N-terminal acetylation also enhanced antimicrobial activity against MDR Streptococcus Sc181, Listeria monocytogenes, and Enterococcus E1478F; did not change the activity against MDR Staphylococcus aureus 9, Staphylococcus sciuri P254, and Staphylococcus aureus RN4220; and decreased the activity against Candida tropicalis, Candida albicans, and Enterococcus faecalis Fbc35. Phe substitution for Leu and S-S cyclization decreased the antimicrobial activity. The negative effect of these modifications was detected against biofilm formation by the tested microbial strains. Comparison of Phe substitution for Leu and S-S cyclization indicated that N-terminally acetylated L163 (L163-Ac) is the best candidate. L163-Ac peptide had the highest antibacterial activity and enhanced tolerance to temperature, pH, plasma, and trypsin and low toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanhui Yang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruifang Li
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liang Huang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zichao Wang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiwu Deng
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuaibo Dong
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
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13
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Cuesta SA, Reinoso C, Morales F, Pilaquinga F, Morán-Marcillo G, Proaño-Bolaños C, Blasco-Zúñiga A, Rivera M, Meneses L. Novel antimicrobial cruzioseptin peptides extracted from the splendid leaf frog, Cruziohyla calcarifer. Amino Acids 2021; 53:853-868. [PMID: 33942149 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-02986-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute part of a broad range of bioactive compounds present on diverse organisms, including frogs. Peptides, produced in the granular glands of amphibian skin, constitute a component of their innate immune response, providing protection against pathogenic microorganisms. In this work, two novel cruzioseptins peptides, cruzioseptin-16 and -17, extracted from the splendid leaf frog Cruziohyla calcarifer are presented. These peptides were identified using molecular cloning and tandem mass spectrometry. Later, peptides were synthetized using solid-phase peptide synthesis, and their minimal inhibitory concentration and haemolytic activity were tested. Furthermore, these two cruzioseptins plus three previously reported (CZS-1, CZS-2, CZS-3) were computationally characterized. Results show that cruzioseptins are 21-23 residues long alpha helical cationic peptides, with antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans and low haemolytic effect. Docking results agree with the principal action mechanism of cationic AMPs that goes through cell membrane disruption due to electrostatic interactions between cationic residues in the cruzioseptins and negative phosphate groups in the pathogen cell membrane. An action mechanism through enzymes inhibition was also tried, but no conclusive results about this mechanism were obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian A Cuesta
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de octubre 1076 Apartado: 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Camila Reinoso
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de octubre 1076 Apartado: 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Felipe Morales
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de octubre 1076 Apartado: 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Fernanda Pilaquinga
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de octubre 1076 Apartado: 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Giovanna Morán-Marcillo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 ½ vía Muyuna, 150150, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Carolina Proaño-Bolaños
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 ½ vía Muyuna, 150150, Tena, Ecuador
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, BT9 7BL, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Ailín Blasco-Zúñiga
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Citogenética y Biomoléculas de Anfibios (LICBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina-CISeAL, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de octubre 1076 Apartado: 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
- Dirección Nacional de Biodiversidad, Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador, Madrid 1159 y Andalucía, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Miryan Rivera
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Citogenética y Biomoléculas de Anfibios (LICBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina-CISeAL, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de octubre 1076 Apartado: 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Lorena Meneses
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de octubre 1076 Apartado: 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador.
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14
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Li X, Fan Y, Lin Q, Luo J, Huang Y, Bao Y, Xu L. Expression of chromogranin A-derived antifungal peptide CGA-N12 in Pichia pastoris. Bioengineered 2020; 11:318-327. [PMID: 32163000 PMCID: PMC7161563 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2020.1736237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The human chromogranin A-derived peptide CGA-N12, which is composed of 12 amino acid residues with the sequence ALQGAKERAHQQ, showed strong antifungal activity and the least hemolytic activity in previous studies. However, synthetic peptides are relatively expensive to produce. Recombinant expression of peptides in the host cells, such as bacteria or yeast, can fastly provide cost-efficient products of peptides. Here, we developed an innovative system to produce CGA-N12 peptides in the yeast Pichia pastoris GS115 using genetic engineering technology. In order to directly secret short CGA-N12 peptides into the culture media from GS115 cells and enhance its expression effect, the structure of the CGA-N12 coding sequence was designed to mimic that of native α-factor gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Four long primer pairs with sticky end were used to synthesize CGA-N12 expression sequence which contains four copies of CGA-N12 flanked by a Lys-Arg pair and two Glu-Ala repeating units. Endogenous proteases Kex2 and Ste13 in Golgi apparatus recognize and excise Lys-Arg and Glu-Ala pair to release short CGA-N12 peptides from the tandem repeat sequences, respectively. The CGA-N12 peptides were successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris with a yield of up to 30 mg/L of yeast culture as determined using HPLC. Our study indicated that the strategy employed in this work may be a good way to express small-molecule peptides directly in the Pichia pastoris system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yong Fan
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Qiong Lin
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jianxiong Luo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yide Huang
- Provincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic Regulation, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuwang Bao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Liyu Xu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.,Central Laboratory, Affiliated Fuzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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15
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Ramezanzadeh M, Saeedi N, Mesbahfar E, Farrokh P, Salimi F, Rezaei A. Design and characterization of new antimicrobial peptides derived from aurein 1.2 with enhanced antibacterial activity. Biochimie 2020; 181:42-51. [PMID: 33271197 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising alternative agents for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Aurein 1.2 is a natural 13-amino acid AMP with antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, we designed three novel AMPs: aurein M1 (A10W), aurein M2 (D4K, E11K), and aurein M3 (A10W, D4K, E11K) to analyze the effect of Trp substitution and enhancement of positive charge on the activity of aurein 1.2. The AMP probability, physicochemical properties, secondary and tertiary structures, and amphipathic structure were predicted by various bioinformatics tools. After the synthesis of the peptides, their antibacterial activity, hemolysis, cytotoxicity, and structural analysis were assayed. Compared to the selectivity of aurein 1.2, the selectivity of aurein M2 and M3 with a net positive charge of +5 was improved 11.30- and 8.00-fold against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, respectively. The hemolytic activity of aurein M2 was lower than that of aurein 1.2 and M3, while the higher percentage of human fibroblast cells were alive in the presence of aurein M3. Also, the MICs of aurein M3 toward Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at the physiologic salt were ≤16, which is recommended as a promising candidate for clinical investigation. Circular dichroism analysis indicated an alpha-helical structure in the peptide analogs that is similar to aurein 1.2 in the presence of 10 mM SDS. Therefore, increasing positive charge can be used successfully as an approach for improving the potency and selectivity of AMPs. Moreover, the beneficial effect of Trp substitution depends on its position and the sequence of peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nasrin Saeedi
- School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran
| | | | - Parisa Farrokh
- School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran; Institute of Biological Sciences, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
| | | | - Arezou Rezaei
- School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran; Institute of Biological Sciences, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran
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16
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Sharma D, Bisht GS. Recent Updates on Antifungal Peptides. Mini Rev Med Chem 2020; 20:260-268. [PMID: 31556857 DOI: 10.2174/1389557519666190926112423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The current trend of increment in the frequency of antifungal resistance has brought research into an era where new antifungal compounds with novel mechanisms of action are required. Natural antimicrobial peptides, which are ubiquitous components of innate immunity, represent their candidature for novel antifungal peptides. Various antifungal peptides have been isolated from different species ranging from small marine organisms to insects and from various other living species. Based on these peptides, various mimetics of antifungal peptides have also been synthesized using non-natural amino acids. Utilization of these antifungal peptides is somehow limited due to their toxic and unstable nature. This review discusses recent updates and future directions of antifungal peptides, for taking them to the shelf from the bench.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Sharma
- Department of Pharmacy, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173234, India
| | - Gopal Singh Bisht
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173234, India
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17
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Cui J, Chen H, Tang X, Zhao J, Zhang H, Chen YQ, Chen W. Δ6 fatty acid desaturases in polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis: insights into the evolution, function with substrate specificities and biotechnological use. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:9947-9963. [PMID: 33094384 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10958-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Δ6 fatty acid desaturases (FADS6) have different substrate specificities that impact the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are involved in regulating multiple signalling pathways associated with various diseases. For decades, FADS6 with different substrate specificities have been characterized and the functions of these crucial enzymes have been investigated, while it remains enigmatic that the substrate specificities of FADS6 from various species have a huge difference. This review summarizes the substrate specificities of FADS6 in different species and reveals the underlying relationship. Further evaluation of biochemical properties has revealed that the FADS6 prefer linoleic acid that is more hydrophilic and stable. Domain-swapping and site-directed mutagenesis have been employed to delineate the regions and sites that affect the substrate specificities of FADS6. These analyses improve our understanding of the functions of FADS6 and offer information for the discovery of novel biological resources. KEY POINTS: • Outline of the excavation and identification of Δ6 fatty acid desaturases. • Overview of methods used to determine the pivotal resides of desaturases. • Application of substrate properties to generate specific fatty acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiqin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China. .,School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianxin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,Wuxi Translational Medicine Research Center and Jiangsu Translational Medicine Research Institute Wuxi Branch, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Q Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 5, Winston-Salem, NC, 27127, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Innovation Center of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), Beijing, 100048, People's Republic of China
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18
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Antimicrobial peptide CGA-N12 decreases the Candida tropicalis mitochondrial membrane potential via mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Biosci Rep 2020; 40:223802. [PMID: 32368781 PMCID: PMC7225414 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20201007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acid sequence from 65th to 76th residue of the N-terminus of Chromogranin A (CGA-N12) is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP). Our previous studies showed that CGA-N12 reduces Candida tropicalis mitochondrial membrane potential. Here, we explored the mechanism that CGA-N12 collapsed the mitochondrial membrane potential by investigations of its action on the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) complex of C. tropicalis. The results showed that CGA-N12 induced cytochrome c (Cyt c) leakage, mitochondria swelling and led to polyethylene glycol (PEG) of molecular weight 1000 Da penetrate mitochondria. mPTP opening inhibitors bongkrekic acid (BA) could contract the mitochondrial swelling induced by CGA-N12, but cyclosporin A (CsA) could not. Therefore, we speculated that CGA-N12 could induce C. tropicolis mPTP opening by preventing the matrix-facing (m) conformation of adenine nucleotide transporter (ANT), thereby increasing the permeability of the mitochondrial membrane and resulted in the mitochondrial potential dissipation.
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19
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Złotek U, Jakubczyk A, Rybczyńska-Tkaczyk K, Ćwiek P, Baraniak B, Lewicki S. Characteristics of New Peptides GQLGEHGGAGMG, GEHGGAGMGGGQFQPV, EQGFLPGPEESGR, RLARAGLAQ, YGNPVGGVGH, and GNPVGGVGHGTTGT as Inhibitors of Enzymes Involved in Metabolic Syndrome and Antimicrobial Potential. Molecules 2020; 25:E2492. [PMID: 32471271 PMCID: PMC7321301 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25112492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxic properties, influence on enzyme activity involved in metabolic syndrome, and antimicrobial activity of synthetic peptides with GQLGEHGGAGMG, GEHGGAGMGGGQFQPV, EQGFLPGPEESGR, RLARAGLAQ, YGNPVGGVGH, and GNPVGGVGHGTTGT sequences. Peptides have no cytotoxic effect on cells. The highest inhibitory effect on angiotensin converting enzyme I was noted for peptide GT-14 (IC50 = 525.63 µg/mL). None of the tested peptides had an influence on α-glucosidase. The highest α-amylase and lipase inhibitory activity was noted for GG-12 (IC50 = 56.72 and 60.62 µg/mL, respectively). The highest lipoxidase inhibitory activity was determined for peptide ER-13 (IC50 = 84.35 µg/mL). Peptide RQ-9 was characterized by the highest COX inhibitory activity (0.31 and 4.77 µg/mL for COX-1 and COX-2, respectively). Only peptide RQ-9 inhibited S. enteritidis ATCC 4931 growth (42%-48%) in all tested concentrations (15.62-250 mg/mL).
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Złotek
- Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Skromna 8, 20-704 Lublin, Poland; (U.Z.); (P.Ć.); (B.B.)
| | - Anna Jakubczyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Skromna 8, 20-704 Lublin, Poland; (U.Z.); (P.Ć.); (B.B.)
| | - Kamila Rybczyńska-Tkaczyk
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, St. Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin, Poland
| | - Paula Ćwiek
- Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Skromna 8, 20-704 Lublin, Poland; (U.Z.); (P.Ć.); (B.B.)
| | - Barbara Baraniak
- Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Skromna 8, 20-704 Lublin, Poland; (U.Z.); (P.Ć.); (B.B.)
| | - Sławomir Lewicki
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Kozielska 4, 01-163 Warsaw, Poland;
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20
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Effects of CGA-N12 on the membrane structure of Candida tropicalis cells. Biochem J 2020; 477:1813-1825. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20190939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The antimicrobial peptide CGA-N12 (NH2-ALQGAKERAHQQ-COOH) is an active peptide derived from chromogranin A (CGA) and consists of the 65th to 76th amino acids of the N-terminus. The results of our previous studies showed that CGA-N12 exerts anti-Candida activity by inducing apoptosis without destroying the integrity of cell membranes. In this study, the effect of CGA-N12 on the cell membrane structure of Candida tropicalis was investigated. CGA-N12 resulted in the dissipation of the membrane potential, the increase in membrane fluidity, and the outflow of potassium ions in C. tropicalis without significantly changing the ergosterol level. Fluorescence quenching was applied to evaluate the membrane channel characteristics induced by CGA-N12 through detection of the following: membrane permeability of hydrated Cl− (ϕ ≈ 0.66 nm) using the membrane-impermeable halogen anion-selective fluorescent dye lucigenin, passage of the membrane-impermeable dye carboxyfluorescein (CF) (ϕ ≈ 1 nm) through the membrane, and membrane permeation of H3O+ based on the membrane non-permeable pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid, trisodium salt (HPTS). In conclusion, CGA-N12 can induce the formation of non-selective ion channels <1 nm in diameter in the membranes of C. tropicalis, resulting in the leakage of potassium ions, chloride ions, and protons, among others, leading to dissipation of the membrane potential. As a result, the fluidity of membranes is increased without destroying the synthesis of ergosterol is not affected.
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21
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Cuesta S, Gallegos F, Arias J, Pilaquinga F, Blasco-Zúñiga A, Proaño-Bolaños C, Rivera M, Meneses L. Molecular modeling of four Dermaseptin-related peptides of the gliding tree frog Agalychnis spurrelli. J Mol Model 2019; 25:260. [PMID: 31422479 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-019-4141-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In this research, we present a preliminary computational study of four Dermaseptin-related peptides from the skin exudate of the gliding tree frog Agalychnis spurrelli. Experimentally, the amino acid sequence of these peptides was elucidated through molecular cloning and tandem mass spectrometry and synthetic peptides were assayed against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans to determine their antimicrobial properties. With the sequences on hand, a computational study of the structures was carried out, obtaining their physicochemical properties, secondary structure, and their similarity to other known peptides. A molecular docking study of these peptides was also performed against cell membrane and several enzymes are known to be vital for the organisms. Results showed that Dermaseptin-related peptides are α-helical cationic peptides with an isoelectric point above 9.70 and a positive charge of physiological pH. Introducing theses peptides in a database, it was determined that their identity compared with known peptides range from 36 to 82% meaning these four Dermaseptins are novel peptides. This preliminary study of molecular docking suggests the mechanism of action of this peptide is not given by the inhibition of essential enzymatic pathways, but by cell lysis. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Cuesta
- Laboratorios LIFE, Av. De la Prensa y Juan Galarza, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Felipe Gallegos
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apartado 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Josefa Arias
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apartado 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Fernanda Pilaquinga
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apartado 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Ailín Blasco-Zúñiga
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Citogenética y Biomoléculas de Anfibios-LICBA, Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina-CISeAL, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de octubre 1076 y Roca, Apartado 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Carolina Proaño-Bolaños
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 vía Muyuna, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Miryan Rivera
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Citogenética y Biomoléculas de Anfibios-LICBA, Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina-CISeAL, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de octubre 1076 y Roca, Apartado 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Lorena Meneses
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apartado 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador.
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Mirzaei M, Mirdamadi S, Safavi M, Hadizadeh M. In vitro and in silico studies of novel synthetic ACE-inhibitory peptides derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein hydrolysate. Bioorg Chem 2019; 87:647-654. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Yang S. Development and Pharmacokinetics Study of Antifungal Peptide Nanoliposomes by Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry. CURR PHARM ANAL 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1573412914666180307155328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:
The therapeutic ability and application of antifungal peptide (APs) are limited
by their physico-chemical and biological properties, the nano-liposomal encapsulation would improve
the in vivo circulation and stability.
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Objective: To develop a long-circulating liposomal delivery systems encapsulated APs-CGA-N12 with
PEGylated lipids and cholesterol, and investigated through in vivo pharmacokinetics.
Methods:
The liposomes were prepared and characterized, a rapid and simple liquid chromatographytandem
mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay was developed for the determination of antifungal peptide
in vivo, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of APs liposomes were evaluated in rats.
Results:
Liposomes had a large, unilamellar structure, particle size and Zeta potential ranged from 160
to 185 nm and -0.55 to 1.1 mV, respectively. The results indicated that the plasma concentration of
peptides in reference solutions rapidly declined after intravenous administration, whereas the
liposomeencapsulated ones showed slower elimination. The AUC(0-∞) was increased by 3.0-fold in
liposomes in comparison with standard solution (20 mg·kg-1), the half-life (T1/2) was 1.6- and 1.5-fold
higher compared to the reference groups of 20 and 40 mg·kg-1, respectively.
Conclusion:
Therefore, it could be concluded that liposomal encapsulation effectively improved the
bioavailability and pharmacokinetic property of antifungal peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuoye Yang
- College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
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Zheng YH, Ma YY, Ding Y, Chen XQ, Gao GX. An insight into new strategies to combat antifungal drug resistance. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2018; 12:3807-3816. [PMID: 30464412 PMCID: PMC6225914 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s185833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections especially in immunocompromised patients represent a dominating cause of mortality. The most commonly used antifungal agents can be divided into three broad categories, including triazoles, echinocandins and polyenes. Antifungal resistance is on the increase, posing a growing threat to the stewardship of immunocompromised patients with fungal infections. The paucity of currently available antifungals leads to the rapid emergence of drug resistance and thus aggravates the refractoriness of invasive fungal infections. Therefore, deep exploration into mechanisms of drug resistance and search for new antifungal targets are required. This review highlights the therapeutic strategies targeting Hsp90, calcineurin, trehalose biosynthesis and sphingolipids biosynthesis, in an attempt to provide clinical evidence for overcoming drug resistance and to form the rationale for combination therapy of conventional antifungals and agents with novel mechanisms of action. What’s more, this review also gives a concise introduction of three new-fashioned antifungals, including carboxymethyl chitosan, silver nanoparticles and chromogranin A-N46.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Hua Zheng
- Department of Hematology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, ;
| | - Yue-Yun Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xie-Qun Chen
- Department of Hematology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, ;
| | - Guang-Xun Gao
- Department of Hematology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, ;
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CGA-N12, a peptide derived from chromogranin A, promotes apoptosis of Candida tropicalis by attenuating mitochondrial functions. Biochem J 2018; 475:1385-1396. [PMID: 29559502 PMCID: PMC5902677 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20170894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
CGA-N12 (the amino acid sequence from the 65th to the 76th residue of the N-terminus of chromagranin A) is an antifungal peptide derived from human chromogranin A (CGA). In our previous investigation, CGA-N12 was found to have specific anti-candidal activity, though the mechanism of action remained unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of CGA-N12 on mitochondria. We found that CGA-N12 induced an over-generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and dissipation in mitochondrial membrane potential, in which the former plays key roles in the initiation of apoptosis and the latter is a sign of the cell apoptosis. Accordingly, we assessed the apoptosis features of Candida tropicalis cells after treatment with CGA-N12 and found the following: leakage of cytochrome c and uptake of calcium ions into mitochondria and the cytosol; metacaspase activation; and apoptotic phenotypes, such as chromatin condensation and DNA degradation. In conclusion, CGA-N12 is capable of inducing apoptosis in C. tropicalis cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and metacaspase activation. Antifungal peptide CGA-N12 from human CGA exhibits a novel apoptotic mechanism as an antifungal agent.
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Data for β-lactoglobulin conformational analysis after (-)-epigallocatechin gallate and metal ions binding. Data Brief 2016; 10:474-477. [PMID: 28054010 PMCID: PMC5198795 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This data article contains complementary results related to the paper “Effect of metal ions on the binding reaction of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate to β-lactoglobulin” (Zhang et al., 2017) [1]. Data was obtained by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to investigate potential β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) conformational changes with different concentrations of EGCg and Cu2+ or Al3+ added to β-Lg. 500 µL of the 25 µM β-Lg solution containing EGCg (25 µM) or metal ions (0–500 µM) were measured, and the spectra were recorded. CD spectroscopy data present in this article indicated that the β-Lg-Cu, β-Lg-Al and β-Lg-EGCg interaction resulted in unfolding of the secondary structure of β-Lg.
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