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Jiang Z, Huang YH, Kaas Q, Craik DJ, Wang CK. Structure and Activity of Reconstructed Pseudo-Ancestral Cyclotides. ChemMedChem 2024:e202400124. [PMID: 38632079 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202400124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Cyclotides are cyclic peptides that are promising scaffolds for the design of drug candidates and chemical tools. However, despite there being hundreds of reported cyclotides, drug design studies have commonly focussed on a select few prototypic examples. Here, we explored whether ancestral sequence reconstruction could be used to generate new cyclotides for further optimization. We show that the reconstructed 'pseudo-ancestral' sequences, named Ancy-m (for the ancestral cyclotide of the Möbius sub-family) and Ancy-b (for the bracelet sub-family), have well-defined structures like their extant members, comprising the core structural feature of a cyclic cystine knot. This motif underpins efforts to re-engineer cyclotides for agrochemical and therapeutic applications. We further show that the reconstructed sequences are resistant to temperatures approaching boiling, bind to phosphatidyl-ethanolamine lipid bilayers at micromolar affinity, and inhibit the growth of insect cells at inhibitory concentrations in the micromolar range. Interestingly, the Ancy-b cyclotide had a higher oxidative folding yield than its comparator cyclotide cyO2, which belongs to the bracelet cyclotide subfamily known to be notoriously difficult to fold. Overall, this study provides new cyclotide sequences not yet found naturally that could be valuable starting points for the understanding of cyclotide evolution and for further optimization as drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Jiang
- 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
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- 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
| | - Quentin Kaas
- 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
| | - 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
| | - Conan K Wang
- 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
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2
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Huang YH, Jiang Z, Du Q, Yap K, Bigot A, Kaas Q, Wang CK, Craik DJ. Scanning mutagenesis identifies residues that improve the long-term stability and insecticidal activity of cyclotide kalata B1. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105682. [PMID: 38272233 PMCID: PMC10877628 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are plant-derived disulfide-rich cyclic peptides that have a natural function in plant defense and potential for use as agricultural pesticides. Because of their highly constrained topology, they are highly resistant to thermal, chemical, or enzymatic degradation. However, the stability of cyclotides at alkaline pH for incubation times of longer than a few days is poorly studied but important since these conditions could be encountered in the environment, during storage or field application as insecticides. In this study, kalata B1 (kB1), the prototypical cyclotide, was engineered to improve its long-term stability and retain its insecticidal activity via point mutations. We found that substituting either Asn29 or Gly1 to lysine or leucine increased the stability of kB1 by twofold when incubated in an alkaline buffer (pH = 9.0) for 7 days, while retaining its insecticidal activity. In addition, when Gly1 was replaced with lysine or leucine, the mutants could be cyclized using an asparaginyl endopeptidase, in vitro with a yield of ∼90% within 5 min. These results demonstrate the potential to manufacture kB1 mutants with increased stability and insecticidal activity recombinantly or in planta. Overall, the discovery of mutants of kB1 that have enhanced stability could be useful in leading to longer term activity in the field as bioinsecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zhihao Jiang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Qingdan Du
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kuok Yap
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Conan K Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - 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, Queensland, Australia.
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3
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Dang TT, Tran TTT, Tran GH, Pham SH, Nguyen THN. Cyclotides derived from Viola dalatensis Gagnep: A novel approach for enrichment and evaluation of antimicrobial activity. Toxicon 2024; 239:107606. [PMID: 38181837 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Cyclotides, plant-derived cysteine-rich peptides, exhibit a wide range of beneficial biological activities and possess exceptional structural stability. Cyclotides are commonly distributed throughout the Violaceae family. Viola dalatensis Gagnep, a Vietnamese species, has not been well studied, especially for cyclotides. This pioneering research explores cyclotides from V. dalatensis as antimicrobials. This study used a novel approach to enhance cyclotides after extraction. The approach combined 30% ammonium sulfate salt precipitation and RP-HPLC. A comprehensive analysis was performed to ascertain the overall protein content, flavonoids content, polyphenol content, and free radical scavenging capacity of compounds derived from V. dalatensis. Six known cyclotides were sequenced utilizing MS tandem. Semi-purified cyclotide mixtures (M1, M2, and M3) exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Bacillus subtilis (inhibitory diameters: 19.67-23.50 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.17-23.50 mm), and Aspergillus flavus (14.67-21.33 mm). The enriched cyclotide precipitate from the stem extract demonstrated a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.08 mg/mL against P. aeruginosa, showcasing significant antibacterial effectiveness compared to the stem extract (MIC: 12.50 mg/mL). Considerable advancements have been achieved in the realm of cyclotides, specifically in their application as antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien T Dang
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Tam T T Tran
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Gia-Hoa Tran
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Son H Pham
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Tuan H N Nguyen
- Biomedical Research Center, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Viet Nam; Department of Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Viet Nam
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4
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Julca I, Mutwil-Anderwald D, Manoj V, Khan Z, Lai SK, Yang LK, Beh IT, Dziekan J, Lim YP, Lim SK, Low YW, Lam YI, Tjia S, Mu Y, Tan QW, Nuc P, Choo LM, Khew G, Shining L, Kam A, Tam JP, Bozdech Z, Schmidt M, Usadel B, Kanagasundaram Y, Alseekh S, Fernie A, Li HY, Mutwil M. Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis of Oldenlandia corymbosa reveals the biosynthesis and mode of action of anti-cancer metabolites. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 36807520 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plants accumulate a vast array of secondary metabolites, which constitute a natural resource for pharmaceuticals. Oldenlandia corymbosa belongs to the Rubiaceae family, and has been used in traditional medicine to treat different diseases, including cancer. However, the active metabolites of the plant, their biosynthetic pathway and mode of action in cancer are unknown. To fill these gaps, we exposed this plant to eight different stress conditions and combined different omics data capturing gene expression, metabolic profiles, and anti-cancer activity. Our results show that O. corymbosa extracts are active against breast cancer cell lines and that ursolic acid is responsible for this activity. Moreover, we assembled a high-quality genome and uncovered two genes involved in the biosynthesis of ursolic acid. Finally, we also revealed that ursolic acid causes mitotic catastrophe in cancer cells and identified three high-confidence protein binding targets by Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) and reverse docking. Altogether, these results constitute a valuable resource to further characterize the biosynthesis of active metabolites in the Oldenlandia group, while the mode of action of ursolic acid will allow us to further develop this valuable compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Julca
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | | | - Vaishnervi Manoj
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Zahra Khan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Soak Kuan Lai
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Lay K Yang
- Shared Analytics, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138671, Singapore
| | - Ing T Beh
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Jerzy Dziekan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Yoon P Lim
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore
| | - Shen K Lim
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore
| | - Yee W Low
- Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 259569, Singapore
| | - Yuen I Lam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Seth Tjia
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Yuguang Mu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Qiao W Tan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Przemyslaw Nuc
- Department of Gene Expression, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, 61-614, Poland
| | - Le M Choo
- Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 259569, Singapore
| | - Gillian Khew
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 259569, Singapore
| | - Loo Shining
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Antony Kam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - James P Tam
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Zbynek Bozdech
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | | | - Bjoern Usadel
- IBG-4 Bioinformatics, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, 52428, Germany
| | - Yoganathan Kanagasundaram
- Shared Analytics, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138671, Singapore
| | - Saleh Alseekh
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, Plovdiv, 4000, Bulgaria
| | - Alisdair Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, Plovdiv, 4000, Bulgaria
| | - Hoi Y Li
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Marek Mutwil
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
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5
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In vitro anti-HIV and cytotoxic effects of pure compounds isolated from Croton macrostachyus Hochst. Ex Delile. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:159. [PMID: 35705943 PMCID: PMC9202147 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03638-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Croton macrostachyus is an important plant in traditional African medicine, widely utilized to treat a variety of diseases. In Kenya, HIV-infected patients use leaf and root decoctions of the plant as a cure for cough, back pain, bleeding, skin diseases, warts, pneumonia, and wounds. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-HIV activities and cytotoxic effects of extracts and chemical constituents isolated from C. macrostachyus. In our previous study we demonstrated that the hexane, CH2Cl2, ethyl acetate and methanol soluble fractions of a 1:1 v/v/ CH2Cl2/MeOH crude extracts of the leaves and stem bark of C. macrostachyus exhibited potent anti-HIV activities against HIV-1 with IC50 values ranging from 0.02–8.1 μg/mL and cytotoxicity effects against MT-4 cells ranging from IC50 = 0.58–174 μg/mL. Hence, hexane soluble extract of 1:1 v/v/ CH2Cl2/MeOH crude extract of the leaves of C. macrostachyus, that was more potent against HIV-1 at IC50 = 0.02 μg/mL was subjected to column chromatography leading to the isolation of 2-methoxy benzyl benzoate (1), lupenone (2), lupeol acetate (3), betulin (4), lupeol (5), sitosterol (6) and stigmasterol (7). Lupenone (2), lupeol acetate (3) and betulin (4) exhibited anti-HIV-1 inhibition at IC50 = 4.7 nM, 4.3 and 4.5 μg/mL respectively. The results obtained from this study support the potential of C. macrostachyus, as a source of anti-HIV constituents.
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Anti-HIV Ermiasolides from Croton megalocarpus. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27207040. [PMID: 36296633 PMCID: PMC9610617 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27207040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, elucidation of novel anti-HIV bioactive compounds from natural products is gaining importance rapidly, not only from the research and publications, but also from controlled clinical studies. Here we report three new anti-HIV eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes, 5β-Hydroxy-8α-methoxy eudesm-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (1), 5β,8α-Dihydroxy eudesm-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (2) and 5β-Hydroxy-8H-β-eudesm-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (3). These are trivially named ermiasolide A-C and were isolated from the bark of Croton megalocarpus. 5β-Hydroxy-8α-methoxy eudesm-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (1), showed the highest anti-HIV activity by inhibiting 93% of the viral replication with an IC50 = 0.002 µg/mL. On the other hand, 5β-Hydroxy-8H-β-eudesm-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (3) and 5β,8α-dihydroxy eudesm-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (2), inhibited viral replication by 77.5% at IC50 = 0.04 µg/mL and 69.5% at IC50 = 0.002 µg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking studies showed that the proposed mechanism of action leading to these results is through the inhibition of HIV-protease.
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Fernández-Bobey A, Pinto MEF, de Almeida LC, de Souza BM, Dias NB, de Paula-Souza J, Cilli EM, Lopes NP, Costa-Lotufo LV, Palma MS, da Silva Bolzani V. Cytotoxic Cyclotides from Anchietea pyrifolia, a South American Plant Species. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2022; 85:2127-2134. [PMID: 36044031 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c01129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are mini-proteins with potent bioactivities and outstanding potential for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications. More than 450 different plant cyclotides have been isolated from six angiosperm families. In Brazil, studies involving this class of natural products are still scarce, despite its rich floristic diversity. Herein were investigated the cyclotides from Anchietea pyrifolia roots, a South American medicinal plant from the family Violaceae. Fourteen putative cyclotides were annotated by LC-MS. Among these, three new bracelet cyclotides, anpy A-C, and the known cycloviolacins O4 (cyO4) and O17 (cyO17) were sequenced through a combination of chemical and enzymatic reactions followed by MALDI-MS/MS analysis. Their cytotoxic activity was evaluated by a cytotoxicity assay against three human cancer cell lines (colorectal carcinoma cells: HCT 116 and HCT 116 TP53-/- and breast adenocarcinoma, MCF 7). For all assays, the IC50 values of isolated compounds ranged between 0.8 and 7.3 μM. CyO17 was the most potent cyclotide for the colorectal cancer cell lines (IC50, 0.8 and 1.2 μM). Furthermore, the hemolytic activity of anpy A and B, cyO4, and cyO17 was assessed, and the cycloviolacins were the least hemolytic (HD50 > 156 μM). This work sheds light on the cytotoxic effects of the anpy cyclotides against cancer cells. Moreover, this study expands the number of cyclotides obtained to date from Brazilian plant biodiversity and adds one more genus containing these molecules to the list of the Violaceae family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Fernández-Bobey
- Nucleus of Bioassays, Biosynthesis, and Ecophysiology of Natural Products (NuBBE), Institute of Chemistry, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), 14800-060, Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Basic and Applied Biology, Laboratory of Structural Biology and Zoochemistry, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), 13506-900, Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Meri Emili Ferreira Pinto
- Nucleus of Bioassays, Biosynthesis, and Ecophysiology of Natural Products (NuBBE), Institute of Chemistry, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), 14800-060, Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Larissa Costa de Almeida
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of Sao Paulo (USP), 05508-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bibiana Monson de Souza
- Department of Basic and Applied Biology, Laboratory of Structural Biology and Zoochemistry, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), 13506-900, Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Baptista Dias
- Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), University of The Frontier (UFRO), 4881-176, Temuco, Chile
| | - Juliana de Paula-Souza
- Department of Botany, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), 88040-535, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Maffud Cilli
- Nucleus of Bioassays, Biosynthesis, and Ecophysiology of Natural Products (NuBBE), Institute of Chemistry, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), 14800-060, Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Norberto Peporine Lopes
- Nucleus Research in Natural and Synthetic Products (NPPNS), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (USP), 14040-903, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leticia Veras Costa-Lotufo
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of Sao Paulo (USP), 05508-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mario Sergio Palma
- Department of Basic and Applied Biology, Laboratory of Structural Biology and Zoochemistry, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), 13506-900, Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanderlan da Silva Bolzani
- Nucleus of Bioassays, Biosynthesis, and Ecophysiology of Natural Products (NuBBE), Institute of Chemistry, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), 14800-060, Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Terefe EM, Okalebo FA, Derese S, Muriuki J, Rotich W, Mas-Claret E, Sadgrove N, Padilla-González GF, Prescott TAK, Siddique H, Langat MK. Constituents of Croton megalocarpus with Potential Anti-HIV Activity. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2022; 85:1861-1866. [PMID: 35709365 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c01013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Reported herein is an anti-HIV monochlorinated compound, 1β-acetoxy-3β-chloro-5α,6α-dihydroxycrotocascarin L (1), of the rare crotofolane diterpenoid class. Compound 1, a suspected artifact of extraction, along with the previously undescribed 11β-acetoxycrotocascarin L (2) and a known compound, crotocascarin K (3), were isolated from the bark of Croton megalocarpus, a Kenyan oil-producing seed crop. Compounds 1 and 3 inhibited HIV-1 replication with IC50 values of 28 and 5.5 nM, respectively. Furthermore, both compounds lacked cytotoxicity toward MT-4 cells and FM-55-M1 cells at concentrations of up to 50 μM. Compounds 1 and 3 were both found to inhibit HIV-1 protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermias Mergia Terefe
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, United States International University-Africa, 14634-00800, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, 14634-00800, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Faith A Okalebo
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, 14634-00800, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Solomon Derese
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joseph Muriuki
- Centre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, 54628-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Winnie Rotich
- Sigowet-Soin Sub-County Hospital, Sondu-Kapsoit Road, Sigowet, Kericho County, 112-20200, Kericho, Kenya
| | - Eduard Mas-Claret
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Kew Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, U.K
| | - Nicholas Sadgrove
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Kew Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, U.K
| | | | | | - Holly Siddique
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Kew Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, U.K
| | - Moses K Langat
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Kew Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, U.K
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Dang TT, Harvey PJ, Chan LY, Huang Y, Kaas Q, Craik DJ. Mutagenesis of cyclotide Cter 27 exemplifies a robust folding strategy for bracelet cyclotides. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tien T. Dang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland
- Institute of Applied Materials Science Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Ho Chi Minh City Australia
| | - Peta J. Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland
| | - Lai Yue Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland
| | - Yen‐Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland
| | - 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 Queensland
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Terefe EM, Okalebo FA, Derese S, Batiha GES, Youssef A, Alorabi M, Muriuki J. Cytotoxicity and anti-HIV activities of extracts of the twigs of Croton dichogamus Pax. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:49. [PMID: 35216601 PMCID: PMC8876114 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03532-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a clinical syndrome resulting from infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes profound immunosuppression. Anti-HIV drugs that are currently available are chemically synthesized and are frequently limited by side effects, the emergence of drug resistance, affordability, and availability, with over 5 million people in the world lacking access to treatment. As a result, to discover new anti-HIV agents, we investigated the effects of Kenyan C. dichogamus extracts on the laboratory-adapted strain HIV-1IIIB in human T-lymphocytic MT-4 cells. Methods Four soluble fractions of 1:1 v/v CH2Cl2:MeOH extract of the twigs of C. dichogamus Pax were tested for their replication inhibition activity against the laboratory-adapted strain HIV-1IIIB in the human T-lymphocytic MT-4 cell line. The plant extracts were further evaluated for their cytotoxicity in MT-4 cells using the MTT assay. Results The cytotoxicity CC50 values of the methanol and methylene chloride soluble fractions of C. dichogamus were found to be between 19.58 ± 0.79 and 167 ± 0.8 µg/ml, respectively. The hexane, methylene chloride, and methanol soluble fractions of the 1:1 v/v CH2Cl2:MeOH extract of the twigs of C. dichogamus showed inhibition of the HIV-1IIIB laboratory-adapted strain in a virus-infected cell culture antiviral assay. The methanol soluble fraction of the 1:1 v/v CH2Cl2:MeOH extract of the twigs of C. dichogamus showed significant anti-HIV activity by inhibiting more than 90% of viral-induced cytopathic effects with an IC50 value of 0.06 ± 0.01 µg/ml, giving an SI of 318.5. Conclusion Based on our findings, the methanol soluble fraction of the 1:1 v/v CH2Cl2:MeOH extract of the twigs of C. dichogamus has shown potential efficacy in inhibiting viral replication and could be considered a promising candidate for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermias Mergia Terefe
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Faith Apolot Okalebo
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Solomon Derese
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, AlBeheira, Egypt
| | - Amal Youssef
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohammed Alorabi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joseph Muriuki
- Centre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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11
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Protocols for measuring the stability and cytotoxicity of cyclotides. Methods Enzymol 2022; 663:19-40. [PMID: 35168789 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides are plant host-defense peptides that have a wide range of biological activities and have diverse potential applications in medicine and agriculture. These 27-37 amino acid peptides have a head-to-tail cyclic backbone and are built around a cystine knot core, which makes them exceptionally stable. This stability and their amenability to sequence modifications has made cyclotides attractive scaffolds in drug design, and many synthetic cyclotides have now been designed and synthesized to test their efficacy as leads for a wide range of diseases, including infectious disease, cancer, pain and multiple sclerosis. Additionally, some natural cyclotides are selectively toxic to certain cancer cell lines, opening their potential as anticancer agents, and others have insecticidal activity, with applications in crop protection. With these applications in mind, there is a need to be able to measure cyclotides in pharmaceutical or agrichemical formulations and in biological media such as blood serum, as well as to assess their potential persistence in the environment when used as agrichemical agents. This chapter describes protocols for quantifying cyclotides in biological fluids, measuring their stability, and assessing their relative cytotoxicity on various types of cells.
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12
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Terefe EM, Okalebo FA, Derese S, Muriuki J, Batiha GES. In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Anti-HIV Activity of Crude Extracts of Croton macrostachyus, Croton megalocarpus and Croton dichogamus. J Exp Pharmacol 2021; 13:971-979. [PMID: 35221732 PMCID: PMC8866981 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s335104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects the body's defense mechanisms and leads to a number of opportunistic infections which later cause fatality as a result of an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). More than half a million individuals have lost their life in 2020 due to this disease. Antiretroviral drugs have played a great role in improving the quality of life of HIV infected individuals. The side effects of these drugs coupled with resistance of the virus to the various regimens, necessitates the search for potentially new and effective antiretroviral medication. The objective of this study is to evaluate anti-HIV activity of crude extracts of three Croton plants. METHODS As part of our effort in screening anti-HIV medications, we evaluated the cytotoxicity and anti-HIV activity of three Croton species used as herbal medicine in Africa. Crude extracts of Croton macrostachyus, Croton megalocarpus and Croton dichogamus were tested for their replication inhibition activity against laboratory adapted strains HIV-1IIIB in Human T-lymphocytic MT-4 cell line. RESULTS Based on our findings, the crude aerial part extract of C. dichogamus displayed the highest anti-HIV activity by inhibiting 73.74% of viral induced cytopathic effect (CPE) at IC50 value of 0.001 + 0.00 μg/mL giving a selectivity index (SI) of 3116.0. In addition, the crude leaf extract of C. megalocarpus showed higher anti-HIV activity by inhibiting 74.65% of CPE at IC50 value of 0.05 + 0.03 μg/mL giving an SI of 571.3. CONCLUSION Out of five extracts from three Croton species screened for anti-HIV activity using human T-lymphocytic MT-4 cells, the leaf extract of Croton megalocarpus and aerial part extract of Croton dichogamus could be considered as promising extracts as they display high antiviral activity with low toxicity and high selectivity index values. To investigate the active constituents responsible for the anti-HIV activity, chemical identification of the active constituents is now in progress in our laboratory. Since there is no previously reported anti-HIV activity for these plants, there is a great need to isolate the compounds responsible for the noted activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermias Mergia Terefe
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Faith Apolot Okalebo
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Solomon Derese
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joseph Muriuki
- Centre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Damanhour University, Damanhour, AlBeheira, 22511, Egypt
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13
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Zakaryan H, Chilingaryan G, Arabyan E, Serobian A, Wang G. Natural antimicrobial peptides as a source of new antiviral agents. J Gen Virol 2021; 102. [PMID: 34554085 PMCID: PMC10026734 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Current antiviral drugs are limited because of their adverse side effects and increased rate of resistance. In recent decades, much scientific effort has been invested in the discovery of new synthetic and natural compounds with promising antiviral properties. Among this new generation of compounds, antimicrobial peptides with antiviral activity have been described and are attracting attention due to their mechanism of action and biological properties. To understand the potential of antiviral peptides (AVPs), we analyse the antiviral activity of well-known AVP families isolated from different natural sources, discuss their physical-chemical properties, and demonstrate how AVP databases can guide us to design synthetic AVPs with better therapeutic properties. All considerations in this sphere of antiviral therapy clearly demonstrate the remarkable contribution that AVPs may make in conquering old as well as newly emerging viruses that plague humanity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hovakim Zakaryan
- Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Discovery, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS, 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
- Denovo Sciences CJSC, 0033, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Garri Chilingaryan
- Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Discovery, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS, 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Erik Arabyan
- Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Discovery, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS, 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
| | | | - Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5900, USA
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14
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In vitro inhibitory effect of Hydrocotyle bonariensis Lam. extracts over Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae on different stages of the chlamydial life cycle. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06947. [PMID: 34041379 PMCID: PMC8141889 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydial infections in humans are widely distributed and are responsible for a variety of acute and chronic diseases. Both Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae can lead to chronic conditions that have been linked to complications and sequelae. This study aimed to develop a culture method in order to detect in vitro antichlamydial activity of different extracts obtained from native Argentinian plants used as antimicrobials in local ethnomedicine and to evaluate their inhibitory activity over Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae growth. The inhibitory activity over different stages of the chlamydial life cycle on cell culture was assessed: the entry, the inclusion developing after entry, and the exponential growth stage. Also, the capability of rendering the cell refractory to chlamydial infection by pre-incubation with the extracts was assayed. Inhibitory activity of water-based and organic-based extracts obtained from Hydrocotyle bonariensis Lam. (Araliaceae), Lithraea molleoides (Vell.) Engl. (Anacardiaceae) and Hybanthus parviflorus (Mutis ex L.f.) Baill. (Violaceae) were tested against five strains of Chlamydia trachomatis (L2/434/BU and four clinical isolates form both neonatal conjunctivitis and adult genital infections, genotypes D, E, and K) and against Chlamydia pneumoniae AR39. The Hydrocotyle bonariensis dichloromethane extract showed a broad inhibitory activity over the exponential growth stage of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae independently from the chlamydial strain and the cell line. These results suggest a high inhibitory potential on both Chlamydiae species. In order to characterize the Hydrocotyle bonariensis dichloromethane active extract, an 1H-NMR was performed. The 1H-NMR characterization showed a spectrum with characteristic signals of the fatty acid moiety of lipids or cerebrosides, volatile phenolics, phytosterols, methyl triterpenes signals, and glucose moiety of the cerebrosides.
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15
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Fu Y, Jaarsma AH, Kuipers OP. Antiviral activities and applications of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:3921-3940. [PMID: 33532865 PMCID: PMC7853169 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03759-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The emergence and re-emergence of viral epidemics and the risks of antiviral drug resistance are a serious threat to global public health. New options to supplement or replace currently used drugs for antiviral therapy are urgently needed. The research in the field of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) has been booming in the last few decades, in particular in view of their strong antimicrobial activities and high stability. The RiPPs with antiviral activity, especially those against enveloped viruses, are now also gaining more interest. RiPPs have a number of advantages over small molecule drugs in terms of specificity and affinity for targets, and over protein-based drugs in terms of cellular penetrability, stability and size. Moreover, the great engineering potential of RiPPs provides an efficient way to optimize them as potent antiviral drugs candidates. These intrinsic advantages underscore the good therapeutic prospects of RiPPs in viral treatment. With the aim to highlight the underrated antiviral potential of RiPPs and explore their development as antiviral drugs, we review the current literature describing the antiviral activities and mechanisms of action of RiPPs, discussing the ongoing efforts to improve their antiviral potential and demonstrate their suitability as antiviral therapeutics. We propose that antiviral RiPPs may overcome the limits of peptide-based antiviral therapy, providing an innovative option for the treatment of viral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Fu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ate H Jaarsma
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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16
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Dang TT, Chan LY, Tombling BJ, Harvey PJ, Gilding EK, Craik DJ. In Planta Discovery and Chemical Synthesis of Bracelet Cystine Knot Peptides from Rinorea bengalensis. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2021; 84:395-407. [PMID: 33570395 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c01065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are plant-derived peptides that have attracted interest as biocides and scaffolds for the development of stable peptide therapeutics. Cyclotides are characterized by their cyclic backbone and cystine knot framework, which engenders them with remarkably high stability. This study reports the cystine knot-related peptidome of Rinorea bengalensis, a small rainforest tree in the Violaceae family that is distributed from Australia westward to India. Surprisingly, many more acyclic knotted peptides (acyclotides) were discovered than cyclic counterparts (cyclotides), with 32 acyclotides and 1 cyclotide sequenced using combined transcriptome and proteomic analyses. Nine acyclotides were isolated and screened against a panel of mammalian cell lines, showing they had the cytotoxic properties normally associated with cyclotide-like peptides. NMR analysis of the acyclotide ribes 21 and 22 and the cyclotide ribe 33 confirmed that these peptides contained the cystine knot structural motif. The bracelet-subfamily cyclotide ribe 33 was amenable to chemical synthesis in reasonable yield, an achievement that has long eluded previous attempts to synthetically produce bracelet cyclotides. Accordingly, ribe 33 represents an exciting new bracelet cyclotide scaffold that can be subject to chemical modification for future molecular engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien T Dang
- 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
| | - 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
| | - Benjamin J Tombling
- 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
| | - Peta J Harvey
- 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
| | - Edward K Gilding
- 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
| | - 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
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17
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Zhang J, Yuan J, Li Z, Fu C, Xu M, Yang J, Jiang X, Zhou B, Ye X, Xu C. Exploring and exploiting plant cyclic peptides for drug discovery and development. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:3096-3117. [PMID: 33599316 DOI: 10.1002/med.21792] [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: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Ever since the discovery of insulin, natural peptides have become an important resource for therapeutic development. Decades of research has led to the discovery of a long list of peptide drugs with broad applications in clinics, from antibiotics to hypertension treatment to pain management. Many of these US FDA-approved peptide drugs are derived from microorganisms and animals. By contrast, the great potential of plant cyclic peptides as therapeutics remains largely unexplored. These macrocyclic peptides typically have rigid structures, good bioavailability and membrane permeability, making them appealing candidates for drug development and engineering. In this review, we introduce the three major classes of plant cyclic peptides and summarize their potential medical applications. We discuss how we can leverage the genome information of many different plants to quickly search for new cyclic peptides and how we can take advantage of the insights gained from their biosynthetic pathways to transform the process of production and drug development. These recent developments have provided a new angle for exploring and exploiting plant cyclic peptides, and we believe that many more peptide drugs derived from plants are about to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jimin Yuan
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijie Li
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunjin Fu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Menglong Xu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Boping Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiufeng Ye
- Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chengchao Xu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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18
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Dang TT, Chan LY, Huang YH, Nguyen LTT, Kaas Q, Huynh T, Craik DJ. Exploring the Sequence Diversity of Cyclotides from Vietnamese Viola Species. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:1817-1828. [PMID: 32437150 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b01218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Viola is the largest genus in the Violaceae plant family and is known for its ubiquitous natural production of cyclotides. Many Viola species are used as medicinal herbs across Asia and are often consumed by humans in teas for the treatment of diseases, including ulcers and asthma. Previous studies reported the isolation of cyclotides from Viola species in many countries in the hope of discovering novel compounds with anti-cancer activities; however, Viola species from Vietnam have not been investigated to date. Here, the discovery of cyclotides from three Viola species (V. arcuata, V. tonkinensis, and V. austrosinensis) collected in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam is reported. Ten cyclotides were isolated from these three Viola species: four are novel and six were previously reported to be expressed in other plants. The structures of three of the new bracelet cyclotides are similar to that of cycloviolacin O2. Because cycloviolacin O2 has previously been shown to have potent activity against a wide range of cancer cell lines including HeLa (human cervical cancer cells) and PC-3 (human prostate cancer cells), the cancer cytotoxicity of the cyclotides isolated from V. arcuata was assessed. All tested cyclotides were cytotoxic against cancer cells, albeit to varying degrees. The sequences discovered in this study significantly expand the understanding of cyclotide diversity, especially in comparison with other cyclotides found in plants from the Asian region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien T Dang
- The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Lai Y Chan
- The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Linh T T Nguyen
- The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Quentin Kaas
- The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Tien Huynh
- Department of Biosciences and Food Technology, RMIT University, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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19
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Abstract
This Review explores the class of plant-derived macrocyclic peptides called cyclotides. We include an account of their discovery, characterization, and distribution in the plant kingdom as well as a detailed analysis of their sequences and structures, biosynthesis and chemical synthesis, biological functions, and applications. These macrocyclic peptides are around 30 amino acids in size and are characterized by their head-to-tail cyclic backbone and cystine knot motif, which render them to be exceptionally stable, with resistance to thermal or enzymatic degradation. Routes to their chemical synthesis have been developed over the past two decades, and this capability has facilitated a wide range of mutagenesis and structure-activity relationship studies. In turn, these studies have both led to an increased understanding of their mechanisms of action as well as facilitated a range of applications in agriculture and medicine, as ecofriendly crop protection agents, and as drug leads or scaffolds for pharmaceutical design. Our overall objective in this Review is to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of cyclotides that we hope will stimulate further work on this fascinating family of peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Meng-Wei Kan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
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20
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Du J, Chan LY, Poth AG, Craik DJ. Discovery and Characterization of Cyclic and Acyclic Trypsin Inhibitors from Momordica dioica. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2019; 82:293-300. [PMID: 30673219 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Momordica trypsin inhibitors (TIs) such as those isolated from the seeds of the gấc fruit, Momordica cochinchinensis (MCoTI-I and MCoTI-II), are widely used as scaffolds for drug design studies. To more effectively exploit these molecules in the development of therapeutics, there is a need for wider discovery of the natural sequence diversity among TIs from other species in the Momordica subfamily. Here we report the discovery of the encoding gene and six TIs from the seeds of the spiny gourd, Momordica dioica, four of which possess novel sequences (Modi 1, 3, 5, and 6) and two (Modi 2 and 4) of which are known peptides (TI-14, TI-17) previously identified in Momordica subangulata. Modi 6 is an acyclic peptide featuring a pyrrolidone carboxylic acid modification, whereas the remaining five TIs are cyclic. All Modi peptides display similar overall structures and trypsin inhibitory activities. No toxicity was observed for these peptides when tested against cancer and insect cells. All Modi peptides were exceptionally stable over 24 h in human serum, indicating a dual strategy to stabilize the peptides in nature, either head-to-tail cyclization or N-pyrolation, which suggests these peptides might be excellent candidates as scaffolds for epitope stabilization in drug design studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqiao Du
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Lai Yue Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Aaron G Poth
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
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21
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Engineering of an Anti-Inflammatory Peptide Based on the Disulfide-Rich Linaclotide Scaffold. Biomedicines 2018; 6:biomedicines6040097. [PMID: 30301200 PMCID: PMC6316043 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines6040097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases are a set of complex and debilitating diseases, for which there is no satisfactory treatment. Peptides as small as three amino acids have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity in mouse models of colitis, but they are likely to be unstable, limiting their development as drug leads. Here, we have grafted a tripeptide from the annexin A1 protein into linaclotide, a 14-amino-acid peptide with three disulfide bonds, which is currently in clinical use for patients with chronic constipation or irritable bowel syndrome. This engineered disulfide-rich peptide maintained the overall fold of the original synthetic guanylate cyclase C agonist peptide, and reduced inflammation in a mouse model of acute colitis. This is the first study to show that this disulfide-rich peptide can be used as a scaffold to confer a new bioactivity.
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Liu FJ, Zhu ZH, Jiang Y, Li HJ. A pair of cyclopeptide epimers from the seeds of Celosia argentea. Chin J Nat Med 2018; 16:63-69. [PMID: 29425591 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(18)30030-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Two cyclopeptides, celogentin L (1) and its epimer lyciumin A (2) were firstly isolated from Celosia argentea L.. The planar structures of the two compounds were fully determined by spectroscopic data, including 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HR-ESI/MS. The absolute configurations of amino acid components were assigned via chiral-phase HPLC analyses after acid hydrolysis. Furthermore, the configuration of C-N linkage at the glycine Cα was elucidated by extensive analyses of 2D-NMR and comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Cytotoxicity of the two compounds against human alveolar epithelial A549, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2, and cervical cancer Hela cell lines was assayed. Although both of them were inactive in these cells, the present findings add new facets for the chemistry of Celosia argentea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | | | - Yan Jiang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Hui-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Chemical Synthesis and Functional Analysis of VarvA Cyclotide. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23040952. [PMID: 29671790 PMCID: PMC6017059 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23040952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are circular peptides found in various plant families. A cyclized backbone, together with multiple disulfide bonds, confers the peptides’ exceptional stability against protease digestion and thermal denaturation. In addition, the features of these antimicrobial molecules make them suitable for use in animal farming, such as aquaculture. Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis on 2-chlorotrityl chlorine (CTC) resin using the “tea-bag” approach was conducted to generate the VarvA cyclotide identified previously from Viola arvensis. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry determined the correct peptide amino acid sequence and the cyclization sites-critical in this multicyclic compound. The cyclotide showed antimicrobial activity against various Gram-negative bacteria, including recurrent pathogens present in Chilean aquaculture. The highest antimicrobial activity was found to be against Flavobacterium psychrophilum. In addition, membrane blebbing on the bacterial surface after exposure to the cyclotide was visualized by SEM microscopy and the Sytox Green permeabilization assay showed the ability to disrupt the bacterial membrane. We postulate that this compound can be proposed for the control of fish farming infections.
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Bactericidal activity of cyclotides where phosphatidylethanolamine-lipid selectivity determines antimicrobial spectra. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1859:1986-2000. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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25
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Nworu CS, Ejikeme TI, Ezike AC, Ndu O, Akunne TC, Onyeto CA, Okpalanduka P, Akah PA. Anti-plasmodial and anti-inflammatory activities of cyclotide-rich extract and fraction of Oldenlandia affinis (R. & S.) D.C. ( Rubiaceae). Afr Health Sci 2017; 17:827-843. [PMID: 29085411 PMCID: PMC5656185 DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v17i3.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oldenlandia affinis, commonly called 'kalata-kalata', a versatile plant used locally to treat malaria fever in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa was investigated for anti-plasmodial and anti-inflammatory activities. OBJECTIVE The study was designed to evaluate the antiplasmodial as well as anti-inflammatory activities of whole extract and cyclotide-rich fraction of Oldenlandia affinis. METHOD The dichloromethane-methanol extract (ODE) of the plant, O. affinis was investigated for suppressive and curative antiplasmodial activities against Plasmodium berghei in mice. ODE and the cyclotide-rich fraction (CRF) was investigated for chronic and acute anti-inflammatory activities in rat models of inflammation. Inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators was studied in RAW264.7 macrophages. RESULTS ODE exhibited significant (p<0.05) reduction in mean parasitaemia in both the suppressive and curative models of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice.Administration of ODE(100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) and CRF (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) produced significant inhibition of rodent models of acute and chronic inflammation . This observation is supported by the significant (P<0.05) inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, inducible nitric oxide (iNO) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and the reactive radical scavenging activities in RAW264.7 macrophages. CONCLUSION These findings could explain, at least in part, the successes reported in the use of the herb, Oldenlandia affinis in the traditional treatment of malaria fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuemeka Sylvester Nworu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Tochukwu Ifenyinwa Ejikeme
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Adaobi Chioma Ezike
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Okechukwu Ndu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Theophine Chinwuba Akunne
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Collins Azubuike Onyeto
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Paul Okpalanduka
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Peter Achunike Akah
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
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Resistance to the Cyclotide Cycloviolacin O2 in Salmonella enterica Caused by Different Mutations That Often Confer Cross-Resistance or Collateral Sensitivity to Other Antimicrobial Peptides. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.00684-17. [PMID: 28607015 PMCID: PMC5527591 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00684-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential components of innate immunity in all living organisms, and these potent broad-spectrum antimicrobials have inspired several antibacterial development programs in the past 2 decades. In this study, the development of resistance to the Gram-negative bacterium-specific peptide cycloviolacin O2 (cyO2), a member of the cyclotide family of plant miniproteins, was characterized in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2. Mutants isolated from serial passaging experiments in increasing concentrations of cyO2 were characterized by whole-genome sequencing. The identified mutations were genetically reconstituted in a wild-type background. The additive effect of mutations was studied in double mutants. Fitness costs, levels of resistance, and cross-resistance to another cyclotide, other peptide and nonpeptide antibiotics, and AMPs were determined. A variety of resistance mutations were identified. Some of these reduced fitness and others had no effect on fitness in vitro, in the absence of cyO2. In mouse competition experiments, four of the cyO2-resistant mutants showed a significant fitness advantage, whereas the effects of the mutations in the others appeared to be neutral. The level of resistance was increased by combining several individual resistance mutations. Several cases of cross-resistance and collateral sensitivity between cyclotides, other AMPs, and antibiotics were identified. These results show that resistance to cyclotides can evolve via several different types of mutations with only minor fitness costs and that these mutations often affect resistance to other AMPs.
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Abstract
Cyclotides are globular microproteins with a unique head-to-tail cyclized backbone, stabilized by three disulfide bonds forming a cystine knot. This unique circular backbone topology and knotted arrangement of three disulfide bonds makes them exceptionally stable to chemical, thermal, and biological degradation compared to other peptides of similar size. In addition, cyclotides have been shown to be highly tolerant to sequence variability, aside from the conserved residues forming the cystine knot. Cyclotides can also cross cellular membranes and are able to modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions, both in vitro and in vivo. All of these features make cyclotides highly promising as leads or frameworks for the design of peptide-based diagnostic and therapeutic tools. This article provides an overview on cyclotides and their applications as molecular imaging agents and peptide-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Gould
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA
| | - Julio A. Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA
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Matsuura HN, Poth AG, Yendo ACA, Fett-Neto AG, Craik DJ. Isolation and Characterization of Cyclotides from Brazilian Psychotria: Significance in Plant Defense and Co-occurrence with Antioxidant Alkaloids. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2016; 79:3006-3013. [PMID: 28006906 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plants from the genus Psychotria include species bearing cyclotides and/or alkaloids. The elucidation of factors affecting the metabolism of these molecules as well as their activities may help to understand their ecological function. In the present study, high concentrations of antioxidant indole alkaloids were found to co-occur with cyclotides in Psychotria leiocarpa and P. brachyceras. The concentrations of the major cyclotides and alkaloids in P. leiocarpa and P. brachyceras were monitored following herbivore- and pathogen-associated challenges, revealing a constitutive, phytoanticipin-like accumulation pattern. Psyleio A, the most abundant cyclotide found in the leaves of P. leiocarpa, and also found in P. brachyceras leaves, exhibited insecticidal activity against Helicoverpa armigera larvae. Addition of ethanol in the vehicle for peptide solubilization in larval feeding trials proved deleterious to insecticidal activity and resulted in increased rates of larval survival in treatments containing indole alkaloids. This suggests that plant alkaloids ingested by larvae might contribute to herbivore oxidative stress detoxification, corroborating, in a heterologous system with artificial oxidative stress stimulation, the antioxidant efficiency of Psychotria alkaloids previously observed in planta. Overall, the present study reports data for eight novel cyclotides, the identification of P. leiocarpa as a cyclotide-bearing species, and the absence of these peptides in P. umbellata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélio N Matsuura
- Center for Biotechnology and Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Aaron G Poth
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Anna C A Yendo
- Center for Biotechnology and Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Arthur G Fett-Neto
- Center for Biotechnology and Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Thermodynamic instability of viral proteins is a pathogen-associated molecular pattern targeted by human defensins. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32499. [PMID: 27581352 PMCID: PMC5007486 DOI: 10.1038/srep32499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human defensins are innate immune defense peptides with a remarkably broad repertoire of anti-pathogen activities. In addition to modulating immune response, inflammation, and angiogenesis, disintegrating bacterial membranes, and inactivating bacterial toxins, defensins are known to intercept various viruses at different stages of their life cycles, while remaining relatively benign towards human cells and proteins. Recently we have found that human defensins inactivate proteinaceous bacterial toxins by taking advantage of their low thermodynamic stability and acting as natural “anti-chaperones”, i.e. destabilizing the native conformation of the toxins. In the present study we tested various proteins produced by several viruses (HIV-1, PFV, and TEV) and found them to be susceptible to destabilizing effects of human α-defensins HNP-1 and HD-5 and the synthetic θ-defensin RC-101, but not β-defensins hBD-1 and hBD-2 or structurally related plant-derived peptides. Defensin-induced unfolding promoted exposure of hydrophobic groups otherwise confined to the core of the viral proteins. This resulted in precipitation, an enhanced susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage, and a loss of viral protein activities. We propose, that defensins recognize and target a common and essential physico-chemical property shared by many bacterial toxins and viral proteins – the intrinsically low thermodynamic protein stability.
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Poth AG, Chan LY, Craik DJ. Cyclotides as grafting frameworks for protein engineering and drug design applications. Biopolymers 2016; 100:480-91. [PMID: 23893608 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2013] [Revised: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides are a family of naturally occurring backbone-cyclized macrocyclic mini-proteins from plants that have a knotted trio of intramolecular disulfide bonds. Their structural features imbue cyclotides with extraordinary stability against degradation at elevated temperatures or in the presence of proteolytic enzymes. The plasticity of their intracysteine loop sequences is exemplified by the more than 250 natural cyclotides sequenced to date, and this tolerance to sequence variation, along with their diverse bioactivities, underpins the suitability of the cyclic cystine knot motif as a valuable drug design scaffold and research tool for protein engineering studies. Here, we review the recent literature on applications of cyclotides for the stabilization of peptide epitopes and related protein engineering studies. Possible future directions in this field are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron G Poth
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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Strömstedt AA, Kristiansen PE, Gunasekera S, Grob N, Skjeldal L, Göransson U. Selective membrane disruption by the cyclotide kalata B7: complex ions and essential functional groups in the phosphatidylethanolamine binding pocket. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1858:1317-27. [PMID: 26878982 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2016.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The cyclic cystine knot plant peptides called cyclotides are active against a wide variety of organisms. This is primarily achieved through membrane binding and disruption, in part deriving from a high affinity for phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipids. Some cyclotides, such as kalata B7 (kB7), form complexes with divalent cations in a pocket associated with the tyrosine residue at position 15 (Tyr15). In the current work we explore the effect of cations on membrane leakage caused by cyclotides kB1, kB2 and kB7, and we identify a functional group that is essential for PE selectivity. The presence of PE-lipids in liposomes increased the membrane permeabilizing potency of the cyclotides, with the potency of kB7 increasing by as much as 740-fold. The divalent cations Mn(2+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) had no apparent effect on PE selectivity. However, amino acid substitutions in kB7 proved that Tyr15 is crucial for PE-selective membrane permeabilization on various liposome systems. Although the tertiary structure of kB7 was maintained, as reflected by the NMR solution structure, mutating Tyr into Ser at position 15 resulted in substantially reduced PE selectivity. Ala substitution at the same position produced a similar reduction in PE selectivity, while substitution with Phe maintained high selectivity. We conclude that the phenyl ring in Tyr15 is critical for the high PE selectivity of kB7. Our results suggest that PE-binding and divalent cation coordination occur in the same pocket without adverse effects of competitive binding for the phospholipid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam A Strömstedt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Eugen Kristiansen
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, Box 1041, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sunithi Gunasekera
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nathalie Grob
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars Skjeldal
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
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Esmaeili MA, Abagheri-Mahabadi N, Hashempour H, Farhadpour M, Gruber CW, Ghassempour A. Viola plant cyclotide vigno 5 induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis via cytochrome C release and caspases activation in cervical cancer cells. Fitoterapia 2016; 109:162-8. [PMID: 26751970 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2015.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 12/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides describe a unique cyclic peptide family that displays a broad range of biological activities including uterotonic, anti-bacteria, anti-cancer and anti-HIV. The vigno cyclotides consist of vigno 1-10 were reported recently from Viola ignobilis. In the present study, we examined the effects of vigno 5, a natural cyclopeptide from V. ignobilis, on cervical cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms. We found that vigno 5-treated Hela cells were killed off by apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner within 24h, and were characterized by the appearance of nuclear shrinkage, cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and DNA fragmentation. The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis revealed that cytochrome C is released from mitochondria to cytosol, associated with the activation of caspase-9 and -3, and the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Overall, the results indicate that vigno 5 induces apoptosis in part via the mitochondrial pathway, which is associated with a release of cytochrome C and elevated activity of caspase-9 and -3 in Hela cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ali Esmaeili
- Department of Biology, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazanin Abagheri-Mahabadi
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Hashempour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Farhadpour
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alireza Ghassempour
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran.
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Synthetic Cystine-Knot Miniproteins - Valuable Scaffolds for Polypeptide Engineering. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 917:121-44. [PMID: 27236555 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-32805-8_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Peptides with the cystine-knot architecture, often termed knottins, are promising scaffolds for biomolecular engineering. These unique molecules combine diverse bioactivities with excellent structural, thermal, and proteolytical stability. Being different in the composition and structure of their amino acid backbone, knottins share the same core element, namely cystine knot, which is built by six cysteine residues forming three disulfides upon oxidative folding. This motif ensures a notably rigid framework that highly tolerates both rational and combinatorial changes in the primary structure. Being accessible through recombinant production and total chemical synthesis, cystine-knot miniproteins can be endowed with novel bioactivities by variation of surface-exposed loops and incorporation of non-natural elements within their non-conserved regions towards the generation of tailor-made peptidic compounds. In this chapter the topology of cystine-knot peptides, their synthesis and applications for diagnostics and therapy is discussed.
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Farhadpour M, Hashempour H, Talebpour Z, A-Bagheri N, Shushtarian MS, Gruber CW, Ghassempour A. Microwave-assisted extraction of cyclotides from Viola ignobilis. Anal Biochem 2015; 497:83-9. [PMID: 26706804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are an interesting family of circular plant peptides. Their unique three-dimensional structure, comprising a head-to-tail circular backbone chain and three disulfide bonds, confers them stability against thermal, chemical, and enzymatic degradation. Their unique stability under extreme conditions creates an idea about the possibility of using harsh extraction methods such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) without affecting their structures. MAE has been introduced as a potent extraction method for extraction of natural compounds, but it is seldom used for peptide and protein extraction. In this work, microwave irradiation was applied to the extraction of cyclotides. The procedure was performed in various steps using a microwave instrument under different conditions. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) results show stability of cyclotide structures on microwave radiation. The influential parameters, including time, temperature, and the ratio of solvents that are affecting the MAE potency, were optimized. Optimal conditions were obtained at 20 min of irradiation time, 1200 W of system power in 60 °C, and methanol/water at the ratio of 90:10 (v/v) as solvent. The comparison of MAE results with maceration extraction shows that there are similarities between cyclotide sequences and extraction yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Farhadpour
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Hashempour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Talebpour
- Department of Chemistry, Alzahra University, Vanac, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazanin A-Bagheri
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alireza Ghassempour
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran.
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Henriques S, Huang YH, Chaousis S, Sani MA, Poth A, Separovic F, Craik D. The Prototypic Cyclotide Kalata B1 Has a Unique Mechanism of Entering Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 22:1087-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2015.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 06/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Burman R, Yeshak MY, Larsson S, Craik DJ, Rosengren KJ, Göransson U. Distribution of circular proteins in plants: large-scale mapping of cyclotides in the Violaceae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:855. [PMID: 26579135 PMCID: PMC4621522 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
During the last decade there has been increasing interest in small circular proteins found in plants of the violet family (Violaceae). These so-called cyclotides consist of a circular chain of approximately 30 amino acids, including six cysteines forming three disulfide bonds, arranged in a cyclic cystine knot (CCK) motif. In this study we map the occurrence and distribution of cyclotides throughout the Violaceae. Plant material was obtained from herbarium sheets containing samples up to 200 years of age. Even the oldest specimens contained cyclotides in the preserved leaves, with no degradation products observable, confirming their place as one of the most stable proteins in nature. Over 200 samples covering 17 of the 23-31 genera in Violaceae were analyzed, and cyclotides were positively identified in 150 species. Each species contained a unique set of between one and 25 cyclotides, with many exclusive to individual plant species. We estimate the number of different cyclotides in the Violaceae to be 5000-25,000, and propose that cyclotides are ubiquitous among all Violaceae species. Twelve new cyclotides from six phylogenetically dispersed genera were sequenced. Furthermore, the first glycosylated derivatives of cyclotides were identified and characterized, further increasing the diversity and complexity of this unique protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Burman
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
| | - Mariamawit Y. Yeshak
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa UniversityAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sonny Larsson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
| | - David J. Craik
- Craik Lab, Chemistry and Structural Biology Division, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - K. Johan Rosengren
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
- Laboratory for Peptide Structural Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Ulf Göransson
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Wang CK, Northfield SE, Swedberg JE, Harvey PJ, Mathiowetz AM, Price DA, Liras S, Craik DJ. Translational diffusion of cyclic peptides measured using pulsed-field gradient NMR. J Phys Chem B 2014; 118:11129-36. [PMID: 25184622 DOI: 10.1021/jp506678f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides are increasingly being recognized as valuable templates for drug discovery or design. To facilitate efforts in the structural characterization of cyclic peptides, we explore the use of pulse-field gradient experiments as a convenient and noninvasive approach for characterizing their diffusion properties in solution. We present diffusion coefficient measurements of five cyclic peptides, including dichC, SFTI-1, cVc1.1, kB1, and kB2. These peptides range in size from six to 29 amino acids and have various therapeutically interesting activities. We explore the use of internal standards, such as dioxane and acetonitrile, to evaluate the hydrodynamic radius from the diffusion coefficient, and show that 2,2-dimethyl-2-silapentane-5-sulfonic acid, a commonly used chemical shift reference, can be used as an internal standard to avoid spectral overlap issues and simplify data analysis. The experimentally measured hydrodynamic radii correlate with increasing molecular weight and in silico predictions. We further applied diffusion measurements to characterize the self-association of kB2 and showed that it forms oligomers in a concentration-dependent manner, which may be relevant to its mechanism of action. Diffusion coefficient measurements appear to have broad utility in cyclic peptide structural biology, allowing for the rapid characterization of their molecular shape in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conan K Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Thapa P, Zhang RY, Menon V, Bingham JP. Native chemical ligation: a boon to peptide chemistry. Molecules 2014; 19:14461-83. [PMID: 25221869 PMCID: PMC6271921 DOI: 10.3390/molecules190914461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of chemical ligation within the realm of peptide chemistry has opened various opportunities to expand the applications of peptides/proteins in biological sciences. Expansion and refinement of ligation chemistry has made it possible for the entry of peptides into the world of viable oral therapeutic drugs through peptide backbone cyclization. This progression has been a journey of chemical exploration and transition, leading to the dominance of native chemical ligation in the present advances of peptide/protein applications. Here we illustrate and explore the historical and current nature of peptide ligation, providing a clear indication to the possibilities and use of these novel methods to take peptides outside their typically defined boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parashar Thapa
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Rui-Yang Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Vinay Menon
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Jon-Paul Bingham
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
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Wang CK, King GJ, Northfield SE, Ojeda PG, Craik DJ. Racemic and Quasi-Racemic X-ray Structures of Cyclic Disulfide-Rich Peptide Drug Scaffolds. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014; 53:11236-41. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201406563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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40
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Wang CK, King GJ, Northfield SE, Ojeda PG, Craik DJ. Racemic and Quasi-Racemic X-ray Structures of Cyclic Disulfide-Rich Peptide Drug Scaffolds. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201406563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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41
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Thapa P, Espiritu MJ, Cabalteja C, Bingham JP. The Emergence of Cyclic Peptides: The Potential of Bioengineered Peptide Drugs. Int J Pept Res Ther 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-014-9421-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Abstract
Cyclic peptides are found in a diverse range of organisms and are characterized by their stability and role in defense. Why is only one class of cyclic peptides found in mammals? Possibly we have not looked hard enough for them, or the technologies needed to identify them are not fully developed. We also do not yet understand their intriguing biosynthesis from two separate gene products. Addressing these challenges will require the application of chemical tools and insights from other classes of cyclic peptides. Herein, we highlight recent developments in the characterization of theta defensins and describe the important role that chemistry has played in delineating their modes of action. Furthermore, we emphasize the potential of theta defensins as antimicrobial agents and scaffolds for peptide drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Conibear
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 QLD (Australia) http://www.imb.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=11695
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44
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de Souza Cândido E, e Silva Cardoso MH, Sousa DA, Viana JC, de Oliveira-Júnior NG, Miranda V, Franco OL. The use of versatile plant antimicrobial peptides in agribusiness and human health. Peptides 2014; 55:65-78. [PMID: 24548568 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Revised: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plant immune responses involve a wide diversity of physiological reactions that are induced by the recognition of pathogens, such as hypersensitive responses, cell wall modifications, and the synthesis of antimicrobial molecules including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These proteinaceous molecules have been widely studied, presenting peculiar characteristics such as conserved domains and a conserved disulfide bond pattern. Currently, many AMP classes with diverse modes of action are known, having been isolated from a large number of organisms. Plant AMPs comprise an interesting source of studies nowadays, and among these there are reports of different classes, including defensins, albumins, cyclotides, snakins and several others. These peptides have been widely used in works that pursue human disease control, including nosocomial infections, as well as for agricultural purposes. In this context, this review will focus on the relevance of the structural-function relations of AMPs derived from plants and their proper use in applications for human health and agribusiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabete de Souza Cândido
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Marlon Henrique e Silva Cardoso
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Daniel Amaro Sousa
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Juliane Cançado Viana
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Nelson Gomes de Oliveira-Júnior
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Vívian Miranda
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
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45
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Northfield SE, Wang CK, Schroeder CI, Durek T, Kan MW, Swedberg JE, Craik DJ. Disulfide-rich macrocyclic peptides as templates in drug design. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 77:248-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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46
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Thell K, Hellinger R, Schabbauer G, Gruber CW. Immunosuppressive peptides and their therapeutic applications. Drug Discov Today 2013; 19:645-53. [PMID: 24333193 PMCID: PMC4042018 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2013.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 11/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
T cell signaling has a pivotal role in autoimmunity and immunosuppression. Immunosuppressive pharmaceuticals often exhibit severe side-effects in patients. Gene-encoded peptides have potential as immunosuppressive drug candidates. Cyclotides are stable peptides that offer enhanced oral administration properties.
The immune system is vital for detecting and evading endogenous and exogenous threats to the body. Failure to regulate this homeostasis leads to autoimmunity, which is often associated with malfunctioning T cell signaling. Several medications are available to suppress over-reactive T lymphocytes, but many of the currently marketed drugs produce severe and life-threatening side-effects. Ribosomally synthesized peptides are gaining recognition from the pharmaceutical industry for their enhanced selectivity and decreased toxicity compared with small molecules; in particular, circular peptides exhibit remarkable stability and increased oral administration properties. For example, plant cyclotides effectively inhibit T lymphocyte proliferation. They are composed of a head-to-tail cyclized backbone and a cystine-knot motif, which confers them with remarkable stability, thus making them attractive pharmaceutical tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Thell
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Hellinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gernot Schabbauer
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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47
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Ding X, Bai D, Qian J. Novel cyclotides from Hedyotis biflora inhibit proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cell in vitro and in vivo. Med Chem Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-013-0746-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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48
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Craik DJ. Joseph Rudinger memorial lecture: discovery and applications of cyclotides. J Pept Sci 2013; 19:393-407. [PMID: 23737440 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides are plant-derived peptides of approximately 30 amino acids that have the characteristic structural features of a head-to-tail cyclized backbone and a cystine knot arrangement of their three conserved disulfide bonds. This article gives a personal account of the discovery of cyclotides, their characterization and their applications, based on work carried out in my laboratory over the last 20 years. It describes some of the background to their discovery and focuses on how their unique structural features lead to exceptional stability. This stability and their amenability to chemical synthesis have made it possible to use cyclotides as templates in protein engineering and drug design applications. These applications complement the interest in cyclotides deriving from their unique structures and natural function as host defense molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia.
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49
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Quimbar P, Malik U, Sommerhoff CP, Kaas Q, Chan LY, Huang YH, Grundhuber M, Dunse K, Craik DJ, Anderson MA, Daly NL. High-affinity cyclic peptide matriptase inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:13885-96. [PMID: 23548907 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.460030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1) and Momordica cochinchinensis trypsin inhibitor-II (MCoTI-II) are potent protease inhibitors comprising a cyclic backbone. RESULTS Elucidation of structure-activity relationships for SFTI-1 and MCoTI-II was used to design inhibitors with enhanced inhibitory activity. CONCLUSION An analog of MCoTI-II is one of the most potent inhibitors of matriptase. SIGNIFICANCE These results provide a solid basis for the design of selective peptide inhibitors of matriptase with therapeutic potential. The type II transmembrane serine protease matriptase is a key activator of multiple signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation and modification of the extracellular matrix. Deregulated matriptase activity correlates with a number of diseases, including cancer and hence highly selective matriptase inhibitors may have therapeutic potential. The plant-derived cyclic peptide, sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1), is a promising drug scaffold with potent matriptase inhibitory activity. In the current study we have analyzed the structure-activity relationships of SFTI-1 and Momordica cochinchinensis trypsin inhibitor-II (MCoTI-II), a structurally divergent trypsin inhibitor from Momordica cochinchinensis that also contains a cyclic backbone. We show that MCoTI-II is a significantly more potent matriptase inhibitor than SFTI-1 and that all alanine mutants of both peptides, generated using positional scanning mutagenesis, have decreased trypsin affinity, whereas several mutations either maintain or result in enhanced matriptase inhibitory activity. These intriguing results were used to design one of the most potent matriptase inhibitors known to date with a 290 pm equilibrium dissociation constant, and provide the first indication on how to modulate affinity for matriptase over trypsin in cyclic peptides. This information might be useful for the design of more selective and therapeutically relevant inhibitors of matriptase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Quimbar
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
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50
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Arnison PG, Bibb MJ, Bierbaum G, Bowers AA, Bugni TS, Bulaj G, Camarero JA, Campopiano DJ, Challis GL, Clardy J, Cotter PD, Craik DJ, Dawson M, Dittmann E, Donadio S, Dorrestein PC, Entian KD, Fischbach MA, Garavelli JS, Göransson U, Gruber CW, Haft DH, Hemscheidt TK, Hertweck C, Hill C, Horswill AR, Jaspars M, Kelly WL, Klinman JP, Kuipers OP, Link AJ, Liu W, Marahiel MA, Mitchell DA, Moll GN, Moore BS, Müller R, Nair SK, Nes IF, Norris GE, Olivera BM, Onaka H, Patchett ML, Piel J, Reaney MJT, Rebuffat S, Ross RP, Sahl HG, Schmidt EW, Selsted ME, Severinov K, Shen B, Sivonen K, Smith L, Stein T, Süssmuth RD, Tagg JR, Tang GL, Truman AW, Vederas JC, Walsh CT, Walton JD, Wenzel SC, Willey JM, van der Donk WA. Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural products: overview and recommendations for a universal nomenclature. Nat Prod Rep 2013; 30:108-60. [PMID: 23165928 DOI: 10.1039/c2np20085f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1438] [Impact Index Per Article: 130.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
This review presents recommended nomenclature for the biosynthesis of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), a rapidly growing class of natural products. The current knowledge regarding the biosynthesis of the >20 distinct compound classes is also reviewed, and commonalities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Arnison
- Prairie Plant Systems Inc, Botanical Alternatives Inc, Suite 176, 8B-3110 8th Street E, Saskatoon, SK, S7H 0W2, Canada
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