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You DG, Lee HR, Kim HK, Lee GY, Yoo YD. A Novel Peptide Derived from the Transmembrane Domain of Romo1 Is a Promising Candidate for Sepsis Treatment and Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158243. [PMID: 34361008 PMCID: PMC8348110 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria through the abuse and long-term use of antibiotics is a serious health problem worldwide. Therefore, novel antimicrobial agents that can cure an infection from MDR bacteria, especially gram-negative bacteria, are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides, part of the innate immunity system, have been studied to find bactericidal agents potent against MDR bacteria. However, they have many problems, such as restrained systemic activity and cytotoxicity. In a previous study, we suggested that the K58–R78 domain of Romo1, a mitochondrial protein encoded by the nucleus, was a promising treatment candidate for sepsis caused by MDR bacteria. Here, we performed sequence optimization to enhance the antimicrobial activity of this peptide and named it as AMPR-22 (antimicrobial peptide derived from Romo1). It showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against 17 sepsis-causing bacteria, including MDR strains, by inducing membrane permeabilization. Moreover, treatment with AMPR-22 enabled a remarkable survival rate in mice injected with MDR bacteria in a murine model of sepsis. Based on these results, we suggest that AMPR-22 could be prescribed as a first-line therapy (prior to bacterial identification) for patients diagnosed with sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deok-Gyun You
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicines, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (D.-G.Y.); (H.-R.L.); (G.-Y.L.)
| | - Hye-Ra Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicines, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (D.-G.Y.); (H.-R.L.); (G.-Y.L.)
| | - Hong-Kyu Kim
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
| | - Gi-Young Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicines, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (D.-G.Y.); (H.-R.L.); (G.-Y.L.)
| | - Young-Do Yoo
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicines, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (D.-G.Y.); (H.-R.L.); (G.-Y.L.)
- Correspondence:
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Lee HR, Lee GY, You DG, Kim HK, Yoo YD. Hepatitis C Virus p7 Induces Membrane Permeabilization by Interacting with Phosphatidylserine. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030897. [PMID: 32019133 PMCID: PMC7037181 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) p7 is known to be a nonselective cation channel for HCV maturation. Because the interaction of HCV proteins with host lipids in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane is crucial for the budding process, the identification of p7–lipid interactions could be important for understanding the HCV life cycle. Here, we report that p7 interacts with phosphatidylserine (PS) to induce membrane permeabilization. The interaction of p7 with PS was not inhibited by Gd3+ ions, which have been known to interact with negatively charged lipids, but channel activity and p7-induced mitochondrial depolarization were inhibited by Gd3+ ions. From the present results, we suggest that the p7–PS interaction plays an essential role in regulating its ion channel function and could be a potential molecular target for anti-HCV therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Ra Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (H.-R.L.); (G.Y.L.)
- Department of Biosystems and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Gi Young Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (H.-R.L.); (G.Y.L.)
| | - Deok-Gyun You
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (H.-R.L.); (G.Y.L.)
| | - Hong Kyu Kim
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Young Do Yoo
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (H.-R.L.); (G.Y.L.)
- Correspondence:
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Lee GY, You DG, Lee HR, Hwang SW, Lee CJ, Yoo YD. Romo1 is a mitochondrial nonselective cation channel with viroporin-like characteristics. J Cell Biol 2018; 217:2059-2071. [PMID: 29545371 PMCID: PMC5987721 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201709001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Romo1 regulates mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production and acts as an essential redox sensor in mitochondrial dynamics. Lee et al. demonstrate that Romo1 is a unique mitochondrial ion channel with viroporin-like characteristics that distinguish Romo1 from other known eukaryotic ion channels. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulator 1 (Romo1) is a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial inner membrane protein known to regulate mitochondrial ROS production and to act as an essential redox sensor in mitochondrial dynamics. Although its physiological roles have been studied for a decade, the biophysical mechanisms that explain these activities of Romo1 are unclear. In this study, we report that Romo1 is a unique mitochondrial ion channel that differs from currently identified eukaryotic ion channels. Romo1 is a highly conserved protein with structural features of class II viroporins, which are virus-encoded nonselective cation channels. Indeed, Romo1 forms a nonselective cation channel with its amphipathic helical transmembrane domain necessary for pore-forming activity. Notably, channel activity was specifically inhibited by Fe2+ ions, an essential transition metal ion in ROS metabolism. Using structural bioinformatics, we designed an experimental data–guided structural model of Romo1 with a rational hexameric structure. We propose that Romo1 establishes a new category of viroporin-like nonselective cation channel in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gi Young Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Deok-Gyun You
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Ra Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biosystems and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Wook Hwang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - C Justin Lee
- Center for Neuroscience and Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Korea University-Korea Institute of Science and Technology Graduate School of Convergence Technology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Do Yoo
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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You DG, Lee HR, Kim WK, Kim HJ, Lee GY, Yoo YD. Hepatitis C virus p7 induces mitochondrial depolarization of isolated liver mitochondria. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:9533-9538. [PMID: 29039530 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)‑encoded protein p7 is a viroporin that acts as an ion channel and is indispensable for HCV particle production. Although the main target of HCV p7 is the endoplasmic reticulum, it also targets mitochondria. HCV‑infected cells show mitochondrial depolarization and ATP depletion; however, the function of HCV p7 in mitochondria is not fully understood. The present study demonstrated that treatment of isolated mouse liver mitochondria with the synthesized HCV p7 protein induced mitochondrial dysfunction. It also demonstrated that HCV p7 targeted isolated mouse liver mitochondria and induced mitochondrial depolarization. In addition, HCV p7 triggered matrix acidification and, ultimately, a decrease in ATP synthesis in isolated mitochondria. These findings indicate that targeting of mitochondria by HCV p7 in infected cells causes mitochondrial dysfunction to support HCV particle production. The present study provided evidence for the role of HCV p7 in mitochondria, and may lead to the development of novel strategies for HCV therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deok-Gyun You
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Ra Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Ki Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Jung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi Young Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Do Yoo
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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