A Novel Technique for the Effective Production of Short Peptide Analogs from Concatameric Short Peptide Multimers

We designed a basic unit of the modified chicken gonadotropin releasing hormone II (cGnRH-II) peptide containing a trypsin cleavable linker peptide at both ends of the original peptide. We made a synthetic DNA coding for the modified cGnRH-II peptide with asymmetric and complementary cohesive ends of linker nucleotides. A tandemly repeated DNA cassette for the expression of concatameric short peptide multimers was constructed by ligating the basic units. The expressed peptide multimers were purified and subject to amino-terminal sequence analysis, which displayed the amino acid sequences expected from the designed nucleotides of the expression cassette. The monomeric cGnRH-II peptide analogs were generated after trypsin digestion. The present results showed that the technique developed for the production of the concatameric peptide multimers with cleavable linker peptides can be generally applicable to the production of short peptide analogs.     

Identification of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide from Human Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein Arginine-Rich Domain (ARD)

The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens causes an increasing challenge to public health. Antimicrobial peptides are considered a possible solution to this problem. HBV core protein (HBc) contains an arginine-rich domain (ARD) at its C-terminus, which consists of 16 arginine residues separated into four clusters (ARD I to IV). In this study, we demonstrated that the peptide containing the full-length ARD I–IV (HBc147-183) has a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity at micro-molar concentrations, including some MDR and colistin (polymyxin E)-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Furthermore, confocal fluorescence microscopy and SYTOX Green uptake assay indicated that this peptide killed Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by membrane permeabilization or DNA binding. In addition, peptide ARD II–IV (HBc153-176) and ARD I–III (HBc147-167) were found to be necessary and sufficient for the activity against P. aeruginosa and K. peumoniae. The antimicrobial activity of HBc ARD peptides can be attenuated by the addition of LPS. HBc ARD peptide was shown to be capable of direct binding to the Lipid A of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in several in vitro binding assays. Peptide ARD I–IV (HBc147-183) had no detectable cytotoxicity in various tissue culture systems and a mouse animal model. In the mouse model by intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus, timely treatment by i.p. injection with ARD peptide resulted in 100-fold reduction of bacteria load in blood, liver and spleen, as well as 100% protection of inoculated animals from death. If peptide was injected when bacterial load in the blood reached its peak, the protection rate dropped to 40%. Similar results were observed in K. peumoniae using an IVIS imaging system. The finding of anti-microbial HBc ARD is discussed in the context of commensal gut microbiota, development of intrahepatic anti-viral immunity and establishment of chronic infection with HBV. Our current results suggested that HBc ARD could be a new promising antimicrobial peptide.     

牛气管黏膜抗菌肽成熟肽基因的克隆及序列分析

目的:获得牛气管黏膜抗菌肽(bTAP)成熟肽的基因序列,为后续的研究工作奠定基础。方法:从新屠宰的黄牛气管黏膜中提取总RNA,反转录获得cDNA,以此cDNA为模板进行PCR扩增目的片段,并将其克隆至pMD18-T载体中,经鉴定随机挑选1个阳性重组子进行测序,将测序结果与已报道的序列进行比较,并做NCBIBlast比对。结果:PCR扩增出bTAP成熟肽基因,核苷酸序列测定验证了其正确性;NCBIBlast比对表明,与bTAP成熟肽基因同源性较高的分别是牛β-防御素11、牛β-防御素12、牛β-防御素402、牛β-防御素403、绵羊β-防御素1、绵羊β-防御素2、山羊β-防御素1及山羊β-防御素2,核苷酸序列同源性分别为78.07%、78.95%、80.70%、83.33%、83.33%、80.70%、81.58%和81.58%,氨基酸序列同源性分别为68.42%、65.79%、68.42%、76.32%、71.05%、63.16%、63.16%和68.42%。结论:成功克隆了bTAP成熟肽的基因序列,NCBIBlas比对表明bTAP与防御素可能来自一个共同的祖系基因。     

NMR Structural Studies of Antimicrobial Peptides: LPcin Analogs

Lactophoricin (LPcin), a component of proteose peptone (113–135) isolated from bovine milk, is a cationic amphipathic antimicrobial peptide consisting of 23 amino acids. We designed a series of N- or C-terminal truncated variants, mutated analogs, and truncated mutated analogs using peptide-engineering techniques. Then, we selected three LPcin analogs of LPcin-C8 (LPcin-YK1), LPcin-T2WT6W (LPcin-YK2), and LPcin-T2WT6W-C8 (LPcin-YK3), which may have better antimicrobial activities than LPcin, and successfully expressed them in E. coli with high yield. We elucidated the 3D structures and topologies of the three LPcin analogs in membrane environments by conducting NMR structural studies. We investigated the purity of the LPcin analogs and the α-helical secondary structures by performing ¹H-¹⁵N 2D HSQC and HMQC-NOESY liquid-state NMR spectroscopy using protein-containing micelle samples. We measured the 3D structures and tilt angles in membranes by conducting ¹⁵N 1D and 2D ¹H-¹⁵N SAMMY type solid-state NMR spectroscopy with an 800 MHz in-house-built ¹H-¹⁵N double-resonance solid-state NMR probe with a strip-shield coil, using protein-containing large bicelle samples aligned and confirmed by molecular-dynamics simulations. The three LPcin analogs were found to be curved α-helical structures, with tilt angles of 55–75° for normal membrane bilayers, and their enhanced activities may be correlated with these topologies.     

Delivery of Antisense Peptide Nucleic Acids to Cells by Conjugation with Small Arginine-Rich Cell-Penetrating Peptide (R/W)9

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are very attractive antisense and antigene agents, but these molecules are not passively taken into cells. Here, using a functional cell assay and fluorescent-based methods, we investigated cell uptake and antisense activity of a tridecamer PNA that targets the HIV-1 polypurine tract sequence delivered using the arginine-rich (R/W)9 peptide (RRWWRRWRR). At micromolar concentrations, without use of any transfection agents, almost 80% inhibition of the target gene expression was obtained with the conjugate in the presence of the endosomolytic agent chloroquine. We show that chloroquine not only induced escape from endosomes but also enhanced the cellular uptake of the conjugate. Mechanistic studies revealed that (R/W)9-PNA conjugates were internalized via pinocytosis. Replacement of arginines with lysines reduced the uptake of the conjugate by six-fold, resulting in the abolition of intracellular target inhibition. Our results show that the arginines play a crucial role in the conjugate uptake and antisense activity. To determine whether specificity of the interactions of arginines with cell surface proteoglycans result in the internalization, we used flow cytometry to examine uptake of arginine- and lysine-rich conjugates in wild-type CHO-K1 and proteoglycan-deficient A745 cells. The uptake of both conjugates was decreased by four fold in CHO-745 cells; therefore proteoglycans promote internalization of cationic peptides, irrespective of the chemical nature of their positive charges. Our results show that arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides, especially (R/W)9, are a promising tool for PNA internalization.     

Isomerization of an Antimicrobial Peptide Broadens Antimicrobial Spectrum to Gram-Positive Bacterial Pathogens

The branched M33 antimicrobial peptide was previously shown to be very active against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, including multidrug-resistant strains. In an attempt to produce back-up molecules, we synthesized an M33 peptide isomer consisting of D-aminoacids (M33-D). This isomeric version showed 4 to 16-fold higher activity against Gram-positive pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, than the original peptide, while retaining strong activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of both peptides was influenced by their differential sensitivity to bacterial proteases. The better activity shown by M33-D against S. aureus compared to M33-L was confirmed in biofilm eradication experiments where M33-L showed 12% activity with respect to M33-D, and in vivo models where Balb-c mice infected with S. aureus showed 100% and 0% survival when treated with M33-D and M33-L, respectively. M33-D appears to be an interesting candidate for the development of novel broad-spectrum antimicrobials active against bacterial pathogens of clinical importance.     

Resonance Energy Transfer Between Tryptophan-214 in Human Serum Albumin and Acrylodan, Prodan, and Promen

It has been proposed that acrylodan (6-acryloyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene) and prodan (6-propionyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene) bind to site I of human serum albumin, whereas promen (6-propionyl-2-methoxynaphthalene) binds to site II of this carrier protein. Because human albumin contains only one single tryptophan, at position 214, it has been possible to measure the distances from this amino-acid residue to each of the three probes by nonradiative energy transfer. The distances calculated, 2.97 +/- 0.10 nm, 3.14 +/- 0.11 nm, and 2.62 +/- 0.17 nm, respectively, confirm the locations previously proposed for all three probes.     

Interplay between Candida albicans and the Antimicrobial Peptide Armory

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key elements of innate immunity, which can directly kill multiple bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. The medically important fungus Candida albicans colonizes different host niches as part of the normal human microbiota. Proliferation of C. albicans is regulated through a complex balance of host immune defense mechanisms and fungal responses. Expression of AMPs against pathogenic fungi is differentially regulated and initiated by interactions of a variety of fungal pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) with pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on human cells. Inflammatory signaling and other environmental stimuli are also essential to control fungal proliferation and to prevent parasitism. To persist in the host, C. albicans has developed a three-phase AMP evasion strategy, including secretion of peptide effectors, AMP efflux pumps, and regulation of signaling pathways. These mechanisms prevent C. albicans from the antifungal activity of the major AMP classes, including cathelicidins, histatins, and defensins leading to a basal resistance. This minireview summarizes human AMP attack and C. albicans resistance mechanisms and current developments in the use of AMPs as antifungal agents.     

Antimicrobial Effect of Human Serum IgA

Serum IgA, IgG and colostrum secretory IgA prepared from specimens pooled from a large number of human beings were shown to have measurable levels of antibodies against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, poliovirus, Coxsackie B virus, echovirus and influenza virus. Serum IgA exerted a bacteriostatic effect in vitro on E. coli and P. aeruginosa, which increased in the presence of the iron-binding proteins lactoferrin and transferrin. This bacteriostasis was reduced when the iron-binding proteins were saturated with iron. Similar results were obtained with IgG and secretory IgA. The bacteriostatic effect of serum IgA was also shown in vivo, in the peritoneal cavity of mice. The effect was suppressed by iron. Iron-chelating substances, siderophores, excreted by E. coli diminished the cosoperative bacteriostatic effect of serum IgA and transferrin. Siderophore production by E. coli was inhibited in the presence of serum IgA, but not when serum IgA was deprived of specific antibody by absorption with E. coli. These results indicate that serum IgA has a potent bacteriostatic effect in cooperation with transferrin or lactoferrin because of the inhibitory effect of the specific antibody on siderophore production by E. coli.     

Importance of Tryptophan in Transforming an Amphipathic Peptide into a Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Targeted Antimicrobial Peptide

Here, we found that simple substitution of amino acids in the middle position of the hydrophobic face of an amphipathic peptide RI16 with tryptophan (T9W) considerably transformed into an antimicrobial peptide specifically targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) results demonstrated that T9W had a strong and specifically antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa, including antibiotic-resistant strains, but was not active against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphyfococcus epidermidis. Fluorescent spectroscopic assays indicated that T9W interacted with the membrane of P. aeruginosa, depolarizing the outer and the inner membrane of bacterial cells. Salt susceptibility assay showed that T9W still maintained its strong anti-pseudomonas activity in the presence of salts at physiological concentrations, and in hemolytic and MTT assays T9W also showed no toxicity against human blood cells and macrophages. In vivo assay demonstrated that T9W also displayed no toxicity to Chinese Kun Ming (KM) mice. Furthermore, the strong antibiofilm activity was also observed with the peptide T9W, which decreased the percentage of biomass formation in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, these findings indicated that design of single-pathogen antimicrobial agents can be achieved by simple amino acid mutation in naturally occurring peptide sequences and this study suggested a model of optimization/design of anti-pseudomonas drugs in which the tryptophan residue was a conserved element.     

Short Peptide Segment and Insulin Co-Assembly Forms Cytotoxic Oligomers

Insulin assembly follows different pathways under different environments. But the mechanism of insulin assembly and the pathology of insulin-related amyloidosis diseases remain unclear. This work, illustrating different pathways of insulin aggregation induced by short peptide segment, may shed light on these research areas. We find that the short peptide segment LVEALYL (7aa, a segment of insulin B chain) can alter the pathway of insulin aggregation and induce the generation of highly toxic oligomers. However, when a bulky cyclen is attached to the peptide segment, β-sheet enriched fibrils will be formed again. This phenomenon may be induced by the disruptive effect of cyclen on the interaction between the short peptide and insulin, which alters the aggregation pathway.     

Alanine Scanning Studies of the Antimicrobial Peptide Aurein 1.2

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are compounds widely distributed in nature that display activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens. Amphibian skin, as an organ rich in pharmacologically active peptides, appears to be an interesting source of novel AMPs. Aurein 1.2 (GLFDIIKKIAESF-NH₂) is a short 13-residue antimicrobial peptide primarily isolated from the skin secretions of Australian bell frogs. In this study, the alanine scan of aurein 1.2 was performed to investigate the effect of each amino acid residue on its biological and physico-chemical properties. The biological studies included determination of minimum inhibitory concentration, activity against biofilm, and inhibitory effect on its formation. Moreover, the hemolytic activity as well as serum stability was determined. The hydrophobicity of peptides and their self-assembly were investigated using reversed-phase chromatography. In addition, their helicity was calculated from circular dichroism spectra. The results not only provided information on structure-activity relationship of aurein 1.2 but also gave insights into design of novel analogs of AMPs in the future.

     

抗菌肽OH-CATH对大肠杆菌Escherichia coli的作用

OH-CATH是眼镜王蛇中新发现的cathelicidin家族抗菌肽.它在1%NaCI存在的条件下对多种细菌都有较强的抗菌活性,同时,在高浓度下对人红细胞无溶血活性.OH-CATH足开发新型抗菌药物的优良模板.蜊明OH-CATH的作用机理及其对微生物的选择性,对研发以OH-CATH为先导结构的药物研发有十分重要的意义.本文利用扫描电镜以及透射电镜对OH-CATH与革兰氏阴性菌一大肠杆菌ATCC 25922相互作用的效应研究.结果揭示:OH-CATH对大肠杆菌的作用涉及到3个步骤.首先,OH-CATH借助其带正电的氨基酸残基附着到细菌带负电荷的细胞壁:然后,附着的OH-CATH在达剑一定浓度后发生聚集,以孔道彤成的方式破坏细菌的膜结构;最终,由十细菌膜的损坏,膜的渗透性被破坏,胞内内含物释放造成细菌死亡.     

Antitumor and Angiostatic Activities of the Antimicrobial Peptide Dermaseptin B2

Recently, we have found that the skin secretions of the Amazonian tree frog Phyllomedusa bicolor contains molecules with antitumor and angiostatic activities and identified one of them as the antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin (Drs) B2. In the present study we further explored the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of this molecule and investigated its mechanism of action. We showed that Drs B2 inhibits the proliferation and colony formation of various human tumor cell types, and the proliferation and capillary formation of endothelial cells in vitro. Furthermore, Drs B2 inhibited tumor growth of the human prostate adenocarcinoma cell line PC3 in a xenograft model in vivo. Research on the mechanism of action of Drs B2 on tumor PC3 cells demonstrated a rapid increasing amount of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase, no activation of caspase-3, and no changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that Drs B2 can interact with the tumor cell surface, aggregate and penetrate the cells. These data together indicate that Drs B2 does not act by apoptosis but possibly by necrosis. In conclusion, Drs B2 could be considered as an interesting and promising pharmacological and therapeutic leader molecule for the treatment of cancer.     

家蚕抗菌肽CD高效表达及其抗BmNPV感染作用

通过大肠杆菌JM109诱导家蚕,提取其脂肪体总mRNA后,通过RT-PCR 得到 cDNA,根据GenBank上家蚕抗菌肽 Cecropin D 的cDNA序列,设计并合成引物,然后PCR扩增得到 Cecropin D肽基因并克隆到pGEM-T载体中,经过EcoRΙ和 Xho I 酶切,连接并将Cecropin D肽基因插入pET32a表达载体中.用重组质粒pET32a- ecropin D 转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),在IPTG诱导下,融合蛋白Trx-Cecropin D 以可溶形式得到高效表达,经SDS-PAGE检测显示分子量为23kDa与预期大小相符,表达量约为总蛋白的30%.融合蛋白经Ni2+ 柱纯化后通过肠激酶切割后释放为 Trx(18kDa)和 Cecropin D (5kDa),最后通过超滤管分离得到重组抗菌肽.通过抑菌实验测得重组CecropinD对于革兰氏阴性及阳性菌均有抑菌活性.并将重组Cecropin D 与家蚕病毒BmNPV作用混合4h后,一起投喂家蚕,发现病毒感染力有明显降低,说明其有抗病毒感染作用.     

家蚕抗菌肽CD高效表达及其抗BmNPV感染作用

通过大肠杆菌JM109诱导家蚕,提取其脂肪体总mRNA后,通过RT-PCR得到cDNA,根据GenBank上家蚕抗菌肽CecropinD的cDNA序列,设计并合成引物,然后PCR扩增得到CecropinD肽基因并克隆到pGEM-T载体中,经过EcoRΙ和XhoI酶切,连接并将CecropinD肽基因插入pET32a表达载体中。用重组质粒pET32a-ecropinD转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),在IPTG诱导下,融合蛋白Trx-CecropinD以可溶形式得到高效表达,经SDS-PAGE检测显示分子量为23kDa与预期大小相符,表达量约为总蛋白的30%。融合蛋白经Ni2 柱纯化后通过肠激酶切割后释放为Trx(18kDa)和CecropinD(5kDa),最后通过超滤管分离得到重组抗菌肽。通过抑菌实验测得重组CecropinD对于革兰氏阴性及阳性菌均有抑菌活性。并将重组CecropinD与家蚕病毒BmNPV作用混合4h后,一起投喂家蚕,发现病毒感染力有明显降低,说明其有抗病毒感染作用。     

人源抗菌肽LL-37的原核表达及活性鉴定

目的:实现大肠杆菌高效可溶表达人源抗菌肽LL-37。方法:LL-37基因克隆至原核载体pET32a,于大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导表达。运用相关生物信息学软件分析重组蛋白Trx-LL-37的理化性质、亲/疏水性、蛋白质二级结构及其可溶表达概率。实验还考察了不同诱导温度对重组蛋白可溶表达比例的影响。结果:生物信息学分析显示,Trx-LL-37分子量21.5kD,理论等电点6.3,物理性质稳定,二级结构简单,具有可溶表达倾向。重组蛋白最佳诱导温度为17℃,与37℃相比,可溶表达比例由37.2%提高至50.2%,并且总表达量也提高了5%左右。抑菌结果显示纯化产物对多种常见细菌的生长具有抑制作用。结论:可采用融合方式通过原核系统高效可溶表达LL-37,为LL-37的功能研究打下基础。     

Tryptophan- and indole-excreting prototrophic mutant of Escherichia coli

Lim, P. G. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge), and R. I. Mateles. Tryptophan- and indole-excreting prototrophic mutant of Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 87:1051-1055. 1964.-A mutant of Escherichia coli K-12, capable of excreting 350 mg of indole and 50 mg of tryptophan per liter when grown on minimal medium, was found to have a level of 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonic acid-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthetase 60% higher than the parent, and to have a 10- to 15-fold elevation of the levels of enzymes in the tryptophan branch of the pathway for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. Contrary to what previous investigators found in E. coli W, the presence of a tyrosine-repressible component of DAHP synthetase sensitive to end-product inhibition by tyrosine could not be demonstrated in either strain K-12 or the mutant. The mutant strain is an example of a microorganism which excretes biosynthetic end products solely because of genetic derepression, as opposed to most previously reported amino acid accumulators which require a combination of genetic and physiological manipulation to achieve derepression.     

Antimicrobial Activity,Stability and Wound Healing Performances of Chitosan Nanoparticles Loaded Recombinant LL37 Antimicrobial Peptide

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Antimicrobial peptides have illustrated potent abilities in the elimination of several pathogens resistant to conventional antimicrobial...     

Induction of Porcine Host Defense Peptide Gene Expression by Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Their Analogs

Dietary modulation of the synthesis of endogenous host defense peptides (HDPs) represents a novel antimicrobial approach for disease control and prevention, particularly against antibiotic-resistant infections. However, HDP regulation by dietary compounds such as butyrate is species-dependent. To examine whether butyrate could induce HDP expression in pigs, we evaluated the expressions of a panel of porcine HDPs in IPEC-J2 intestinal epithelial cells, 3D4/31 macrophages, and primary monocytes in response to sodium butyrate treatment by real-time PCR. We revealed that butyrate is a potent inducer of multiple, but not all, HDP genes. Porcine β-defensin 2 (pBD2), pBD3, epididymis protein 2 splicing variant C (pEP2C), and protegrins were induced markedly in response to butyrate, whereas pBD1 expression remained largely unaltered in any cell type. Additionally, a comparison of the HDP-inducing efficacy among saturated free fatty acids of different aliphatic chain lengths revealed that fatty acids containing 3–8 carbons showed an obvious induction of HDP expression in IPEC-J2 cells, with butyrate being the most potent and long-chain fatty acids having only a marginal effect. We further investigated a panel of butyrate analogs for their efficacy in HDP induction, and found glyceryl tributyrate, benzyl butyrate, and 4-phenylbutyrate to be comparable with butyrate. Identification of butyrate and several analogs with a strong capacity to induce HDP gene expression in pigs provides attractive candidates for further evaluation of their potential as novel alternatives to antibiotics in augmenting innate immunity and disease resistance of pigs.