1
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Pedron CN, Torres MDT, Oliveira CS, Silva AF, Andrade GP, Wang Y, Pinhal MAS, Cerchiaro G, da Silva Junior PI, da Silva FD, Radhakrishnan R, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Oliveira Junior VX. Molecular hybridization strategy for tuning bioactive peptide function. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1067. [PMID: 37857855 PMCID: PMC10587126 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05254-7] [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: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The physicochemical and structural properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) determine their mechanism of action and biological function. However, the development of AMPs as therapeutic drugs has been traditionally limited by their toxicity for human cells. Tuning the physicochemical properties of such molecules may abolish toxicity and yield synthetic molecules displaying optimal safety profiles and enhanced antimicrobial activity. Here, natural peptides were modified to improve their activity by the hybridization of sequences from two different active peptide sequences. Hybrid AMPs (hAMPs) were generated by combining the amphipathic faces of the highly toxic peptide VmCT1, derived from scorpion venom, with parts of four other naturally occurring peptides having high antimicrobial activity and low toxicity against human cells. This strategy led to the design of seven synthetic bioactive variants, all of which preserved their structure and presented increased antimicrobial activity (3.1-128 μmol L-1). Five of the peptides (three being hAMPs) presented high antiplasmodial at 0.8 μmol L-1, and virtually no undesired toxic effects against red blood cells. In sum, we demonstrate that peptide hybridization is an effective strategy for redirecting biological activity to generate novel bioactive molecules with desired properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cibele Nicolaski Pedron
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cyntia Silva Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil
| | - Adriana Farias Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Patricia Andrade
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil
| | - Yiming Wang
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Giselle Cerchiaro
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Dias da Silva
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil
| | - Ravi Radhakrishnan
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Vani Xavier Oliveira Junior
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil.
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil.
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2
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Bischetti M, Alaimo N, Nardelli F, Punzi P, Amariei C, Ingenito R, Musco G, Gallo M, Cicero DO. Structural insights on the selective interaction of the histidine-rich piscidin antimicrobial peptide Of-Pis1 with membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2023; 1865:184080. [PMID: 36328080 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Of-Pis1 is a potent piscidin antimicrobial peptide (AMP), recently isolated from rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). This rich in histidines and glycines 24-amino acid peptide displays high and broad antimicrobial activity and no significant hemolytic toxicity against human erythrocytes, suggesting low toxicity. To better understand the mechanism of action of Of-Pis1 and its potential selectivity, using NMR and CD spectroscopies, we studied the interaction with eukaryotic and procaryotic membranes and membrane models. Anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) micelles were used to mimic procaryotic membranes, while zwitterionic dodecyl phosphocholine (DPC) was used as eukaryotic membrane surrogate. In an aqueous environment, Of-Pis1 adopts a flexible random coil conformation. In DPC and SDS instead, the N-terminal region of Of-Pis1 forms an amphipathic α-helix with the non-polar face in close contact with the micelles. Slower solvent exchange and higher pKas of the histidine residues in SDS than in DPC suggest that Of-Pis1 interacts more tightly with SDS. Of-Pis1 also binds tightly and structurally perturbs LPS micelles. Of-Pis1 interacts with both Escherichia coli and mammalian cell membranes, but only in the presence of Escherichia coli membranes it populates the helical conformation. Furthermore, ligand-based NMR experiments support a tighter and more specific interaction with bacterial than with eukaryotic membranes. Overall, these data clearly show the selective interaction of this broadly active AMP with bacterial over eukaryotic membranes. The conformational information is discussed in terms of Of-Pis1 amino acid sequence and composition to provide insights useful to design more potent and selective AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Bischetti
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Nadine Alaimo
- Structural Biology and Computational Chemistry, IRBM SpA, Via Pontina Km 30 600, 00 071 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Nardelli
- Biomolecular NMR Laboratory, I.R.C.C.S. Ospedale San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Pasqualina Punzi
- Peptides Chemistry Unit, IRBM SpA, Via Pontina Km 30 600, 00 071 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristi Amariei
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaele Ingenito
- Peptides Chemistry Unit, IRBM SpA, Via Pontina Km 30 600, 00 071 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovana Musco
- Biomolecular NMR Laboratory, I.R.C.C.S. Ospedale San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Mariana Gallo
- Structural Biology and Computational Chemistry, IRBM SpA, Via Pontina Km 30 600, 00 071 Pomezia, Rome, Italy.
| | - Daniel Oscar Cicero
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
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3
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Jiang M, Chen R, Zhang J, Chen F, Wang KJ. A Novel Antimicrobial Peptide Spampcin 56-86 from Scylla paramamosain Exerting Rapid Bactericidal and Anti-Biofilm Activity In Vitro and Anti-Infection In Vivo. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113316. [PMID: 36362111 PMCID: PMC9653689 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The abuse of antibiotics leads to the increase of bacterial resistance, which seriously threatens human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find effective alternatives to antibiotics, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are the most promising antibacterial agents and have received extensive attention. In this study, a novel potential AMP was identified from the marine invertebrate Scylla paramamosain and named Spampcin. After bioinformatics analysis and AMP database prediction, four truncated peptides (Spa31, Spa22, Spa20 and Spa14) derived from Spampcin were screened, all of which showed potent antimicrobial activity with different antibacterial spectrum. Among them, Spampcin56-86 (Spa31 for short) exhibited strong bactericidal activity against a variety of clinical pathogens and could rapidly kill the tested bacteria within minutes. Further analysis of the antibacterial mechanism revealed that Spa31 disrupted the integrity of the bacterial membrane (as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy observation, NPN, and PI staining assays), leading to bacterial rupture, leakage of cellular contents (such as elevated extracellular ATP), increased ROS production, and ultimately cell death. Furthermore, Spa31 was found to interact with LPS and effectively inhibit bacterial biofilms. The antibacterial activity of Spa31 had good thermal stability, certain ion tolerance, and no obvious cytotoxicity. It is worth noting that Spa31 could significantly improve the survival rate of zebrafish Danio rerio infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, indicating that Spa31 played an important role in anti-infection in vivo. This study will enrich the database of marine animal AMPs and provide theoretical reference and scientific basis for the application of marine AMPs in medical fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Roushi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jingrong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Fangyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Correspondence: (F.C.); (K.-J.W.)
| | - Ke-Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Correspondence: (F.C.); (K.-J.W.)
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4
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Cardoso PHDO, Boleti APDA, Silva PSE, Mukoyama LTH, Guindo AS, de Moraes LFRN, de Oliveira CFR, Macedo MLR, Carvalho CME, de Castro AP, Migliolo L. Evaluation of a Novel Synthetic Peptide Derived from Cytolytic Mycotoxin Candidalysin. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14100696. [PMID: 36287965 PMCID: PMC9610734 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14100696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of neuroinflammation in neurology is becoming increasingly apparent. In addition to neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, the role of neuroinflammation has been identified in many non-inflammatory neurological disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, and cancer. The immune response within the brain involves the presence of CNS resident cells; mainly glial cells, such as microglia, the CNS resident macrophages. We evaluated the peptide Ca-MAP1 bioinspired on the C. albicans immature cytolytic toxin candidalysin to develop a less hemolytic peptide with anti-neuroinflammatory, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. In silico and in vitro studies were performed at various concentrations. Ca-MAP1 exhibits low hemolytic activity at lower concentrations and was not cytotoxic to MRC-5 and BV-2 cells. Ca-MAP1 showed activity against Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli ATCC, E. coli KPC, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC. Furthermore, Ca-MAP1 exhibits anti-neuroinflammatory activity in the BV-2 microglia model, with 93.78% inhibition of nitrate production at 18.1 µM. Ca-MAP1 presents cytotoxic activity against tumor cell line NCI-H292 at 36.3 μM, with an IC50 of 38.4 µM. Ca-MAP1 demonstrates results that qualify it to be evaluated in the next steps to promote the control of infections and provide an alternative antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Henrique de Oliveira Cardoso
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula de Araújo Boleti
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Souza e Silva
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Lincoln Takashi Hota Mukoyama
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Alexya Sandim Guindo
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luiz Filipe Ramalho Nunes de Moraes
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Caio Fernando Ramalho de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Unidade de Tecnologia de Alimentos e da Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Maria Ligia Rodrigues Macedo
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Unidade de Tecnologia de Alimentos e da Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cristiano Marcelo Espínola Carvalho
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Alinne Pereira de Castro
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ludovico Migliolo
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-67-33123473
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5
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Cardoso MH, Chan LY, Cândido ES, Buccini DF, Rezende SB, Torres MDT, Oshiro KGN, Silva ÍC, Gonçalves S, Lu TK, Santos NC, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Craik DJ, Franco OL. An N-capping asparagine-lysine-proline (NKP) motif contributes to a hybrid flexible/stable multifunctional peptide scaffold. Chem Sci 2022; 13:9410-9424. [PMID: 36093022 PMCID: PMC9383710 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06998e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural diversity drives multiple biological activities and mechanisms of action in linear peptides. Here we describe an unusual N-capping asparagine-lysine-proline (NKP) motif that confers a hybrid multifunctional scaffold to a computationally designed peptide (PaDBS1R7). PaDBS1R7 has a shorter α-helix segment than other computationally designed peptides of similar sequence but with key residue substitutions. Although this motif acts as an α-helix breaker in PaDBS1R7, the Asn5 presents exclusive N-capping effects, forming a belt to establish hydrogen bonds for an amphipathic α-helix stabilization. The combination of these different structural profiles was described as a coil/N-cap/α-helix scaffold, which was also observed in diverse computational peptide mutants. Biological studies revealed that all peptides displayed antibacterial activities. However, only PaDBS1R7 displayed anticancer properties, eradicated Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, decreased bacterial counts by 100-1000-fold in vivo, reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages stress, and stimulated fibroblast migration for wound healing. This study extends our understanding of an N-capping NKP motif to engineering hybrid multifunctional peptide drug candidates with potent anti-infective and immunomodulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlon H Cardoso
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília SGAN 916 Módulo B, Asa Norte, Brasília - DF 70790160 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro Asa Norte Brasília - DF 70910900 Brazil
- Instituto de Biociências (INBIO), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária 79070900 Campo Grande Mato Grosso do Sul Brazil
| | - Lai Y Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - Elizabete S Cândido
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília SGAN 916 Módulo B, Asa Norte, Brasília - DF 70790160 Brazil
| | - Danieli F Buccini
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
| | - Samilla B Rezende
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
| | - Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Karen G N Oshiro
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro Asa Norte Brasília - DF 70910900 Brazil
| | - Ítala C Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Sónia Gonçalves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Biological Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge - MA 02139 USA
| | - Nuno C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - Octávio L Franco
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília SGAN 916 Módulo B, Asa Norte, Brasília - DF 70790160 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro Asa Norte Brasília - DF 70910900 Brazil
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6
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Souza E Silva P, Ferreira MA, de Moraes LFR, de Barros E, Preza SLE, Cardoso MH, Franco OL, Migliolo L. Synthetic peptides bioinspired in temporin-PTa with antibacterial and antibiofilm activity. Chem Biol Drug Des 2022; 100:51-63. [PMID: 35377553 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been reported in amphibian toxins, as temporin-PTa from Hylarana picturata. The amino acid distribution within a helical structure of AMPs favors the design of new bioactive peptides. Therefore, this work reports the rational design of two new synthetic peptides denominated Hp-MAP1 and Hp-MAP2 derived from temporin-PTa. These peptides present an amphipathic helix with positive charges of +4 and +5, hydrophobic moment (<µH>) of 0.66 and 0.72 and hydrophobicity (<H>) of 0.49 and 0.41, respectively. Hp-MAP1 and Hp-MAP2 displayed in vitro activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria from 2.8 to 92 µM, without presenting hemolytic effects. Molecular dynamics simulation suggested that the parent and designed temporin-like peptides lack structural stability in an aqueous solution. By contrast, α-helical structures were predicted in hydrophobic and anionic environments. Additionally, the peptides were simulated on mimetic membranes composed of anionic and neutral phospholipids 1,2-dipalmitoylsn-glycerol-3-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG-anionic), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-lyco-3 phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE-neutral). When in contact with DPPG/DPPE (90:10) and DPPG/DPPE (50:50) temporin-PTa, Hp-MAP1 and Hp-MAP2 established interactions guided by hydrogen and saline bounds. Therefore, the findings described here reveal that the optimization of the amphipathic α-helical cationic peptides Hp-MAP1 and Hp-MAP2 enabled the generation of new synthetic antimicrobial agents to combat pathogenic microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Souza E Silva
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Marcos Antonio Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | - Elizângela de Barros
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | | | - Marlon Henrique Cardoso
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Ciências Genômicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Ciências Genômicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Ludovico Migliolo
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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7
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Ting DSJ, Mohammed I, Lakshminarayanan R, Beuerman RW, Dua HS. Host Defense Peptides at the Ocular Surface: Roles in Health and Major Diseases, and Therapeutic Potentials. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:835843. [PMID: 35783647 PMCID: PMC9243558 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.835843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sight is arguably the most important sense in human. Being constantly exposed to the environmental stress, irritants and pathogens, the ocular surface – a specialized functional and anatomical unit composed of tear film, conjunctival and corneal epithelium, lacrimal glands, meibomian glands, and nasolacrimal drainage apparatus – serves as a crucial front-line defense of the eye. Host defense peptides (HDPs), also known as antimicrobial peptides, are evolutionarily conserved molecular components of innate immunity that are found in all classes of life. Since the first discovery of lysozyme in 1922, a wide range of HDPs have been identified at the ocular surface. In addition to their antimicrobial activity, HDPs are increasingly recognized for their wide array of biological functions, including anti-biofilm, immunomodulation, wound healing, and anti-cancer properties. In this review, we provide an updated review on: (1) spectrum and expression of HDPs at the ocular surface; (2) participation of HDPs in ocular surface diseases/conditions such as infectious keratitis, conjunctivitis, dry eye disease, keratoconus, allergic eye disease, rosacea keratitis, and post-ocular surgery; (3) HDPs that are currently in the development pipeline for treatment of ocular diseases and infections; and (4) future potential of HDP-based clinical pharmacotherapy for ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Shu Jeng Ting
- Academic Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Anti-Infectives Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Darren Shu Jeng Ting
| | - Imran Mohammed
- Academic Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Roger W. Beuerman
- Anti-Infectives Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Harminder S. Dua
- Academic Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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8
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Zheng X, Yuan C, Zhang Y, Zha S, Mao F, Bao Y. Prediction and characterization of a novel hemoglobin-derived mutant peptide (mTgHbP7) from Tegillarca granosa. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 125:84-89. [PMID: 35537672 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The hemoglobin (Hb) is identified in Tegillarca granosa and its derived peptides have been proved to possess antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we identified a series of novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and artificially mutated AMPs derived from subunits of T. granosa Hbs, among which, a mutant T. granosa hemoglobin peptide (mTgHbP) mTgHbP7, was proved to possess predominant antibacterial activity against three bacteria strains (Vibrio alginolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli). Besides, mTgHbP7 was predicted to form α-helical structure, which was known to be an important feature of bactericidal AMPs. Furthermore, upon contact with HEK293 cell line, we confirmed that mTgHbP7 had no cytotoxicity to mammalian cell even at a high concentration of 160 μM. Therefore, the findings reported here provide a rationalization for antimicrobial peptide prediction and optimization from mollusk hemoglobin, which will be useful for future development of antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Zheng
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germplasm Resources, College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Chun Yuan
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germplasm Resources, College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Shanjie Zha
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germplasm Resources, College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China; Ninghai Institute of Mariculture Breeding and Seed Industry, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ninghai, 315604, China
| | - Fan Mao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yongbo Bao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germplasm Resources, College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China; Ninghai Institute of Mariculture Breeding and Seed Industry, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ninghai, 315604, China.
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9
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Han Y, Zhang M, Lai R, Zhang Z. Chemical modifications to increase the therapeutic potential of antimicrobial peptides. Peptides 2021; 146:170666. [PMID: 34600037 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The continued use of antibiotics has been accompanied by the rapid emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also known as host defense peptides, show multiple features as an ideal antimicrobial agent, including potent, rapid, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, low promotion of antimicrobial resistance, potent anti-biofilm activity, and lethality against metabolically inactive microorganisms. However, several crucial drawbacks constrain the use of AMPs as clinical drugs, e.g., liability in vivo, toxicity when used systemically, and high production costs. Based on recent findings and our own experiences, here we summarize some chemical modifications and key design strategies to increase the therapeutic potential of AMPs, including 1) enhancing antimicrobial activities, 2) improving in vivo effectiveness, and 3) reduction in toxicity, which may facilitate the design and optimization of AMPs for the development of drug candidates. We also discuss the present challenges in the optimization of AMPs and future concerns about the resistance and cross-resistance to AMPs in the development of AMPs as therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Han
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650223 Yunnan, China
| | - Manli Zhang
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, The Second Part of First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 Jilin Province, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650223 Yunnan, China
| | - Zhiye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650223 Yunnan, China.
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10
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Hitchner MA, Necelis MR, Shirley D, Caputo GA. Effect of Non-natural Hydrophobic Amino Acids on the Efficacy and Properties of the Antimicrobial Peptide C18G. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2021; 13:527-541. [PMID: 32889698 PMCID: PMC7933317 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-020-09701-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been an area of great interest, due to the high selectivity of these molecules toward bacterial targets over host cells and the limited development of bacterial resistance to these molecules through evolution. The peptides are known to selectively bind to bacterial cell surfaces through electrostatic interactions, and subsequently, the peptides insert into the cell membrane and cause local disruptions of membrane integrity leading to cell death. Previous experiments showed that replacing the Leu residues in the AMP C18G with other naturally occurring hydrophobic residues resulted in side-chain-dependent activities. This work extends the investigation to non-natural hydrophobic amino acids and the effect on peptide activity. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) results demonstrated that amino acid substitutions containing long flexible carbon chains maintained or increased antimicrobial activity compared to natural analogues. In solution, the peptide showed aggregation only with the most hydrophobic non-natural amino acid substitutions. Binding assays using Trp fluorescence confirm a binding preference for anionic lipids while quenching experiments demonstrated that the more hydrophobic peptides are more deeply buried in the anionic lipid bilayers compared to the zwitterionic bilayers. The most effective peptides at killing bacteria were also those which showed some level of disruption of bacterial membranes; however, one peptide sequence exhibited very strong activity and very low levels of red blood cell hemolysis, yielding a promising target for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan A Hitchner
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA
| | - Matthew R Necelis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA
| | - Devanie Shirley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA
| | - Gregory A Caputo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA.
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11
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Smirnova MP, Kolodkin NI, Kolobov AA, Afonin VG, Afonina IV, Stefanenko LI, Shpen' VM, Shamova OV, Kolobov AA. Indolicidin analogs with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic activity. Peptides 2020; 132:170356. [PMID: 32593681 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2020.170356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
To create a broad-spectrum peptide biocide, we synthesized 45 analogs of antimicrobial peptide indolicidin (H-Ile-Leu-Pro-Trp-Lys-Trp-Pro-Trp-Trp-Pro-Trp-Arg-Arg-NH2). Among them the peptides H-Ile-Leu-Pro-(2-Me)Phe-Lys-(2-Me)Phe-Pro-(2-Me)Phe-(2-Me)Phe-Pro-(2-Me)Phe-Arg-Arg-NH2 and HN2-(CH2)10-Ile-Leu-Pro-D-Phe-Lys-D-Phe-Pro-D-Phe-D-Phe-Pro-D-Phe-Arg-Arg-NH2 have the broadest spectrum of antimicrobial activity and the lowest hemolytic activity. They are active against all 11 tested strains of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi with MIC50 from 0.9 to 6.1 μg/ml (0.5 to 3.2 μM), being up to 3 times more active than indolicidin, and are at least 1.8 times less hemolytically active than indolicidin (reached the detection limit). These peptides are patented and could be used for further drug development as antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Smirnova
- Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Verta Ltd., Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - N I Kolodkin
- Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Verta Ltd., Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - A A Kolobov
- Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Verta Ltd., Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - V G Afonin
- Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Verta Ltd., Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - I V Afonina
- Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Verta Ltd., Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - L I Stefanenko
- Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Verta Ltd., Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - V M Shpen'
- Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Verta Ltd., Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - O V Shamova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - A A Kolobov
- Institute of Highly Pure Biopreparations, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Verta Ltd., Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
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12
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The Spectrum of Design Solutions for Improving the Activity-Selectivity Product of Peptide Antibiotics against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria and Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cells. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153526. [PMID: 32752241 PMCID: PMC7436000 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The link between the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of peptides has long been studied, and the number of peptides identified with both activities has recently increased considerably. In this work, we hypothesized that designed peptides with a wide spectrum of selective antimicrobial activity will also have anticancer activity, and tested this hypothesis with newly designed peptides. The spectrum of peptides, used as partial or full design templates, ranged from cell-penetrating peptides and putative bacteriocin to those from the simplest animals (placozoans) and the Chordata phylum (anurans). We applied custom computational tools to predict amino acid substitutions, conferring the increased product of bacteriostatic activity and selectivity. Experiments confirmed that better overall performance was achieved with respect to that of initial templates. Nine of our synthesized helical peptides had excellent bactericidal activity against both standard and multidrug-resistant bacteria. These peptides were then compared to a known anticancer peptide polybia-MP1, for their ability to kill prostate cancer cells and dermal primary fibroblasts. The therapeutic index was higher for seven of our peptides, and anticancer activity stronger for all of them. In conclusion, the peptides that we designed for selective antimicrobial activity also have promising potential for anticancer applications.
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13
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Roca-Pinilla R, López-Cano A, Saubi C, Garcia-Fruitós E, Arís A. A new generation of recombinant polypeptides combines multiple protein domains for effective antimicrobial activity. Microb Cell Fact 2020; 19:122. [PMID: 32503648 PMCID: PMC7275485 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-020-01380-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although most of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), being relatively short, are produced by chemical synthesis, several AMPs have been produced using recombinant technology. However, AMPs could be cytotoxic to the producer cell, and if small they can be easily degraded. The objective of this study was to produce a multidomain antimicrobial protein based on recombinant protein nanoclusters to increase the yield, stability and effectivity. RESULTS A single antimicrobial polypeptide JAMF1 that combines three functional domains based on human α-defensin-5, human XII-A secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), and a gelsolin-based bacterial-binding domain along with two aggregation-seeding domains based on leucine zippers was successfully produced with no toxic effects for the producer cell and mainly in a nanocluster structure. Both, the nanocluster and solubilized format of the protein showed a clear antimicrobial effect against a broad spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including multi-resistant strains, with an optimal concentration between 1 and 10 µM. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrated that multidomain antimicrobial proteins forming nanoclusters can be efficiently produced in recombinant bacteria, being a novel and valuable strategy to create a versatile, highly stable and easily editable multidomain constructs with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in both soluble and nanostructured format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Roca-Pinilla
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research (IRTA), 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Spain
| | - Adrià López-Cano
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research (IRTA), 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Spain
| | - Cristina Saubi
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research (IRTA), 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Spain
| | - Elena Garcia-Fruitós
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research (IRTA), 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Spain.
| | - Anna Arís
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research (IRTA), 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Spain.
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14
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Der Torossian Torres M, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Reprogramming biological peptides to combat infectious diseases. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:15020-15032. [PMID: 31782426 DOI: 10.1039/c9cc07898c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
With the rapid spread of resistance among parasites and bacterial pathogens, antibiotic-resistant infections have drawn much attention worldwide. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop new strategies to treat neglected diseases and drug-resistant infections. Here, we outline several new strategies that have been developed to counter pathogenic microorganisms by designing and constructing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In addition to traditional discovery and design mechanisms guided by chemical biology, synthetic biology and computationally-based approaches offer useful tools for the discovery and generation of bioactive peptides. We believe that the convergence of such fields, coupled with systematic experimentation in animal models, will help translate biological peptides into the clinic. The future of anti-infective therapeutics is headed towards specifically designed molecules whose form is driven by computer-based frameworks. These molecules are selective, stable, and active at therapeutic doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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15
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Vaezi Z, Bortolotti A, Luca V, Perilli G, Mangoni ML, Khosravi-Far R, Bobone S, Stella L. Aggregation determines the selectivity of membrane-active anticancer and antimicrobial peptides: The case of killerFLIP. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1862:183107. [PMID: 31678022 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.183107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Host defense peptides selectively kill bacterial and cancer cells (including those that are drug-resistant) by perturbing the permeability of their membranes, without being significantly toxic to the host. Coulombic interactions between these cationic and amphipathic peptides and the negatively charged membranes of pathogenic cells contribute to the selective toxicity. However, a positive charge is not sufficient for selectivity, which can be achieved only by a finely tuned balance of electrostatic and hydrophobic driving forces. A common property of amphipathic peptides is the formation of aggregated structures in solution, but the role of this phenomenon in peptide activity and selectivity has received limited attention. Our data on the anticancer peptide killerFLIP demonstrate that aggregation strongly increases peptide selectivity, by reducing the effective peptide hydrophobicity and thus the affinity towards membranes composed of neutral lipids (like the outer layer of healthy eukaryotic cell membranes). Aggregation is therefore a useful tool to modulate the selectivity of membrane active peptides and peptidomimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Vaezi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Bortolotti
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Perilli
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roya Khosravi-Far
- BiomaRx Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara Bobone
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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16
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Acevedo ICC, Silva Jr PI, Silva FD, Araújo I, Alves FL, Oliveira CS, Oliveira Jr VX. IsCT‐based analogs intending better biological activity. J Pept Sci 2019; 25:e3219. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.3219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fernanda Dias Silva
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e HumanasUniversidade Federal do ABC Santo André SP Brazil
| | - Iris Araújo
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e HumanasUniversidade Federal do ABC Santo André SP Brazil
| | - Flávio Lopes Alves
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e HumanasUniversidade Federal do ABC Santo André SP Brazil
- Departamento de BiofísicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo SP Brazil
| | | | - Vani Xavier Oliveira Jr
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e HumanasUniversidade Federal do ABC Santo André SP Brazil
- Departamento de BiofísicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo SP Brazil
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17
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Stone TA, Cole GB, Ravamehr-Lake D, Nguyen HQ, Khan F, Sharpe S, Deber CM. Positive Charge Patterning and Hydrophobicity of Membrane-Active Antimicrobial Peptides as Determinants of Activity, Toxicity, and Pharmacokinetic Stability. J Med Chem 2019; 62:6276-6286. [PMID: 31194548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Natural α-helical cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAP) sequences are predominantly amphipathic, with only ca. 2% containing four or more consecutive positively charged amino acids (Lys/Arg). We have designed synthetic CAPs that deviate from these natural sequences, as typified by the charge-clustered peptide KKKKKKAAFAAWAAFAA-NH2, (termed 6K-F17), which displays high antimicrobial activity with no toxicity to mammalian cells. We created a series of peptides varying in charge patterning, increasing the amphipathic character of 6K-F17 to mimic the design of natural CAPs (e.g., KAAKKFAKAWAKAFAA-NH2). Amphipathic sequences displayed increased antimicrobial activity against bacteria but were significantly more toxic to mammalian cells and more susceptible to protease degradation than their corresponding charge-clustered variants, suggesting that amphipathic sequences may be desirable in nature to allow for more versatile functions (i.e., antibacterial, antifungal, antipredator) and rapid clearance from vulnerable host cells. Our approach to clustering of charges may therefore allow for specialization against bacteria, in concert with prolonged peptide half-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy A Stone
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Toronto , Toronto , M5S 1A8 Ontario , Canada
| | - Gregory B Cole
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Dorna Ravamehr-Lake
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Huong Q Nguyen
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Farheen Khan
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Simon Sharpe
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Charles M Deber
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
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18
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Mant CT, Jiang Z, Gera L, Davis T, Nelson KL, Bevers S, Hodges RS. De Novo Designed Amphipathic α-Helical Antimicrobial Peptides Incorporating Dab and Dap Residues on the Polar Face To Treat the Gram-Negative Pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii. J Med Chem 2019; 62:3354-3366. [PMID: 30848594 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
We have designed de novo and synthesized ten 26-residue D-conformation amphipathic α-helical cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), seven with "specificity determinants", which provide specificity for prokaryotic cells over eukaryotic cells. The ten AMPs contain five or six positively charged residues (d-Arg, d-Lys, d-Orn, l-Dab, or l-Dap) on the polar face to understand their role in hemolytic activity against human red blood cells and antimicrobial activity against seven Acinetobacter baumannii strains, resistant to polymyxin B and colistin, and 20 A. baumannii worldwide isolates from 2016 and 2017 with antibiotic resistance to 18 different antibiotics. AMPs with specificity determinants and with l-Dab and l-Dap residues on the polar face have essentially no hemolytic activity at 1000 μg/mL (380 μM), showing for the first time the importance of these unusual amino acid residues in solving long-standing hemolysis issues of AMPs. Specificity determinants maintained excellent antimicrobial activity in the presence of human sera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin T Mant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine , University of Colorado , Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
| | - Ziqing Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine , University of Colorado , Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
| | - Lajos Gera
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine , University of Colorado , Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
| | - Tim Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine , University of Colorado , Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
| | | | - Shaun Bevers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine , University of Colorado , Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
| | - Robert S Hodges
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine , University of Colorado , Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States
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19
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Selectivity of Antimicrobial Peptides: A Complex Interplay of Multiple Equilibria. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1117:175-214. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-3588-4_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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20
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Mant CT, Byars A, Ankarlo S, Jiang Z, Hodges RS. Separation of highly charged (+5 to +10) amphipathic α-helical peptide standards by cation-exchange and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr A 2018; 1574:60-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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21
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Ferreira AF, Comune M, Rai A, Ferreira L, Simões PN. Atomistic-Level Investigation of a LL37-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticle By Well-Tempered Metadynamics. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:8359-8366. [PMID: 30106592 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b05717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
LL37 is a cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and wound-healing potential. The enhancement of these characteristics was recently demonstrated for a cysteine (CYS)-modified cathelicidin-derived LL37-SH conjugated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Considering the potential of this peptide, we hereby report a computational study in which well-tempered metadynamics was applied to unveil the interaction of LL37-SH and LL37 with a AuNP with atomistic detail. A structural analysis combined with the free energy surface (FES) characterization allowed the assessment of the role of CYS residue during the formation of the conjugate, as well as to understand how the AuNP improves the antimicrobial activity of the peptide. It was found that CYS promotes a lower conformational entropy (before and after adsorption onto the AuNP) and a faster adsorption process when compared to the LL37 without CYS. The FES for LL37-SH is characterized by one global minimum, while for LL37 a potential metastable state was found. The presence of the AuNP leads to an elongation of the peptides along with the adsorption, which translates into the increase of the solvent-accessible surface area. This elongation combined with the greater availability of positively charged residues upon adsorption rationalizes the observed enhancement of the activity of the LL37-SH/AuNP conjugate.
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Affiliation(s)
- André F Ferreira
- CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering , University of Coimbra , 3030-790 Coimbra , Portugal
| | - Michela Comune
- CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology , University of Coimbra , 3004-517 Coimbra , Portugal.,Biocant , Biotechnology Innovation Center , 3060-197 Cantanhede , Portugal
| | - Akhilesh Rai
- CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology , University of Coimbra , 3004-517 Coimbra , Portugal.,Biocant , Biotechnology Innovation Center , 3060-197 Cantanhede , Portugal
| | - Lino Ferreira
- CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology , University of Coimbra , 3004-517 Coimbra , Portugal.,Biocant , Biotechnology Innovation Center , 3060-197 Cantanhede , Portugal
| | - Pedro N Simões
- CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering , University of Coimbra , 3030-790 Coimbra , Portugal
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22
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Yao S, Udenigwe CC. Peptidomics of potato protein hydrolysates: implications of post-translational modifications in food peptide structure and behaviour. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:172425. [PMID: 30109062 PMCID: PMC6083715 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.172425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) often occur in proteins and play a regulatory role in protein function. There is an increasing interest in the bioactivity of food protein-derived peptides, but the occurrence of PTMs and their influence on food peptide structure and behaviour remain largely unknown. In this study, the shotgun-based peptidomics strategy was used to identify the occurrence of PTMs in peptides generated from potato protein hydrolysis using digestive proteases. Diverse PTMs were found in the potato peptides, including acetylation of lysine, N-terminal of proteins and peptides, C-terminal amidation, de-amidation of asparagine/glutamine, methylation and trimethylation, methionine oxidation and N-terminal pyro-glutamyl residue formation. The modifications may have been formed naturally or as a result of chemical reactions during isolation and enzymatic processing of the potato proteins. Most of the PTMs were calculated to decrease the isoelectric point and increase molecular hydrophobicity of the peptides, which will influence their bioactivity while also potentially altering their solubility in an aqueous environment. This is the first study to unravel that food-derived peptides can be widely modified by PTMs associated with notable changes in peptide chemical properties. The findings have broader implications on the bioavailability, biomolecular interactions and biological activities of food peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixiang Yao
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
- School of Nutrition Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaK1H 8L1
| | - Chibuike C. Udenigwe
- School of Nutrition Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaK1H 8L1
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaK1N 6N5
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23
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Cui X, Du J, Li J, Wang Z. Inhibitory site of α-hairpinin peptide from tartary buckwheat has no effect on its antimicrobial activities. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2018; 50:408-416. [PMID: 29509838 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmy015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are known to play important roles in the innate host defense mechanisms of most living organisms. Protease inhibitors from plants potently inhibit the growth of a variety of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Therefore, there are excellent candidates for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. In this study, an antimicrobial peptide derived from tartary buckwheat seeds (FtAMP) was obtained by gene cloning, expression and purification, which exhibited inhibitory activity toward trypsin. Furthermore, the relationship between the antimicrobial and inhibitory activities of FtAMP was investigated. Two mutants (FtAMP-R21A and FtAMP-R21F) were generated through site-directed mutagenesis. Inhibitory activity analysis showed that both FtAMP-R21A and FtAMP-R21F lost trypsin-inhibitory activity. However, FtAMP-R21A and FtAMP-R21F showed novel inhibitory activities against elastase and α-chymotrypsin, respectively, suggesting that Arg-21 in the inhibitory site loop is specific for the inhibitory activity of FtAMP against trypsin. Antimicrobial assays showed that all three peptides exhibited strong antifungal activity against Trichoderma koningii, Rhizopus sp., and Fusarium oxysporum. These results showed that the changes in FtAMP inhibitory site have no effect on their antifungal properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Cui
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Jingjing Du
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Jiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Taiyuan 030006, China
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Zhuanhua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Taiyuan 030006, China
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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