Structure of a Stapled Peptide Antagonist Bound to Nutlin-Resistant Mdm2

As key negative regulator of the p53 tumour suppressor, Mdm2 is an attractive therapeutic target. Small molecules such as Nutlin have been developed to antagonise Mdm2, resulting in p53-dependent death of tumour cells. We have recently described a mutation in Mdm2 (M62A), which precludes binding of Nutlin, but not p53. This Nutlin-resistant variant is not, however, refractory to binding and inhibition by stapled peptide antagonists targeting the same region of Mdm2. A detailed understanding of how stapled peptides are recalcitrant to Mdm2 mutations conferring Nutlin-resistance will aid in the further development of potent Mdm2 antagonists. Here, we report the 2.00 Å crystal structure of a stapled peptide antagonist bound to Nutlin resistant Mdm2. The stapled peptide relies on an extended network of interactions along the hydrophobic binding cleft of Mdm2 for high affinity binding. Additionally, as seen in other stapled peptide structures, the hydrocarbon staple itself contributes to binding through favourable interactions with Mdm2. The structure highlights the intrinsic plasticity present in both Mdm2 and the hydrocarbon staple moiety, and can be used to guide future iterations of both small molecules and stapled peptides for improved antagonists of Mdm2.     

Discovery and Characterization of a Novel Cyclic Peptide That Effectively Inhibits Ephrin Binding to the EphA4 Receptor and Displays Anti-Angiogenesis Activity

The EphA4 receptor tyrosine kinase regulates a variety of physiological and pathological processes during neural development and the formation of tumor blood vessels; thus, it represents a new and promising therapeutic target. We used a combination of phage peptide display and computer modeling/docking approaches and discovered a novel cyclic nonapeptide, now designated TYY. This peptide selectively inhibits the binding of the ephrinA5 ligand with EphA4 and significantly blocks angiogenesis in a 3D matrigel culture system. Molecular docking reveals that TYY recognizes the same binding pocket on EphA4 that the natural ephrin ligand binds to and that the Tyr3 and Tyr4 side chains of TYY are both critical for the TYY/EphA4 interaction. The discovery of TYY introduces a valuable probe of EphA4 function and a new lead for EphA4-targeted therapeutic development.     

Activity Regulates Cell Death within Cortical Interneurons through a Calcineurin-Dependent Mechanism

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Evaluation of Antimalarial Activity and Toxicity of a New Primaquine Prodrug

Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent of the five species causing malaria in humans. The current available treatment for P. vivax malaria is limited and unsatisfactory due to at least two drawbacks: the undesirable side effects of primaquine (PQ) and drug resistance to chloroquine. Phenylalanine-alanine-PQ (Phe-Ala-PQ) is a PQ prodrug with a more favorable pharmacokinetic profile compared to PQ. The toxicity of this prodrug was evaluated in in vitro assays using a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2), a monkey kidney cell line (BGM), and human red blood cells deficient in the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD). In addition, in vivo toxicity assays were performed with rats that received multiple doses of Phe-Ala-PQ to evaluate biochemical, hematological, and histopathological parameters. The activity was assessed by the inhibition of the sporogonic cycle using a chicken malaria parasite. Phe-Ala-PQ blocked malaria transmission in Aedes mosquitoes. When compared with PQ, it was less cytotoxic to BGM and HepG2 cells and caused less hemolysis of G6PD-deficient red blood cells at similar concentrations. The prodrug caused less alteration in the biochemical parameters than did PQ. Histopathological analysis of the liver and kidney did show differences between the control and Phe-Ala-PQ-treated groups, but they were not statistically significant. Taken together, the results highlight the prodrug as a novel lead compound candidate for the treatment of P. vivax malaria and as a blocker of malaria transmission.     

The Fission Yeast php2 Mutant Displays a Lengthened Chronological Lifespan

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe php2 ⁺ gene encodes a subunit of the CCAAT-binding factor complex. We found that disruption of the php2 ⁺ gene extended the chronological lifespan of the fission yeast. Moreover, the lifespan of the Δphp2 mutant was barely extended under calorie restricted (CR) conditions. Many other phenotypes of the Δphp2 mutant resembled those of wild-type cells grown under CR conditions, suggesting that the Δphp2 mutant might undergo CR. The mutant also showed low respiratory activity concomitant with decreased expression of the cyc1 ⁺ and rip1 ⁺ genes, both of which are involved in mitochondrial electron transport. On the basis of a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we determined that Php2 binds to a DNA region upstream of cyc1 ⁺ and rip1 ⁺ in S. pombe. Here we discuss the possible mechanisms by which the chronological lifespan of Δphp2 mutant is extended.     

The Interface Between an Alternating CG Motif and a Random Sequence Motif Displays Altered Nuclease Activity

Abstract

Previously we described the B-Z junctions produced in oligomers containing (5meCG)₄ segments in the presence of 5.0 M NaCl or 50 uM Co(NH₃)₆ ⁺³ [Sheardy, R.D. & Winkle, S.A., Biochemistry 28, 720–725 (1989); Winkle, S. A., Aloyo, M.C., Morales, N., Zambrano, T.Y. & Sheardy, R.D., Biochemistry 30, 10601–10606 (1991)]. The circular dichroism spectra of an analogous unmethylated oligomer containing (CG)₄, termed BZ-IV, in 5.0 M NaCl and in 50 uM CO(NH₃)⁺³ suggest, however, that this oligomer does not form a B-Z hybrid. BZ-IV possesses Hha I sites (CGCG) in the (CG)₄ segment and an Mbo I site (GATC) at the terminus of the (CG)₄ segment BZ-IV is equally digestible in the presence and absence of cobalt hexamine by Hha I, further indicating that the structure of BZ-IV is fully B-like under these conditions. The Mbo I cleavage site at the juncture between the (CG)₄ segment and the adjacent random segment displays enhanced cleavage by both Mbo I and its isoschizomer Sau3A I in the presence of cobalt hexamine. In addition, exonuclease IH digestion of BZ-IV is inhibited at this juncture. Actinomycin inhibits Mbo I activity in the presence of cobalt hexamine but not in the absence. Together, these results suggest that enzymes recognize the interfaces of (CG)n and adjacent random sequences as altered substrates even in the absence of a B-Z junction formation.     

人骨形成蛋白-2C端102肽的诱骨活性

为分析更短的Hbmp-2C端肽是否具有诱骨活性 ,寻求新型的有诱骨活性的基因工程Hbmp-2产品。利用温度诱导的大肠杆菌表达系统表达肽段长度为102个氨基酸的Hbmp-2C端肽及其Cys的突变体。表达产物经纯化复性后 ,植入小鼠肌袋模型中测试其诱骨活性。获得了能稳定表达Hbmp 2C端肽的工程菌 ,测序结果与预期的序列完全一致。表达产物以包涵体形式存在 ,表达量占细胞总蛋白的 3 0 %。产物经纯化复性后 ,小鼠肌袋模型测试结果表明 :Hbmp 2 10 2肽仍具有诱骨活性 ,而将C端第一位Cys突变的 10 2肽诱骨活性丧失。实验表明 :比Hbmp 2成熟肽 ( 114个氨基酸 )更短的C端 10 2肽仍具有良好诱骨活性 ,这 10 2肽N端第一个Cys对其诱骨活性可能是必需的。     

Bloom Syndrome Helicase Stimulates RAD51 DNA Strand Exchange Activity through a Novel Mechanism

Loss or inactivation of BLM, a helicase of the RecQ family, causes Bloom syndrome, a genetic disorder with a strong predisposition to cancer. Although the precise function of BLM remains unknown, genetic data has implicated BLM in the process of genetic recombination and DNA repair. Previously, we demonstrated that BLM can disrupt the RAD51-single-stranded DNA filament that promotes the initial steps of homologous recombination. However, this disruption occurs only if RAD51 is present in an inactive ADP-bound form. Here, we investigate interactions of BLM with the active ATP-bound form of the RAD51-single-stranded DNA filament. Surprisingly, we found that BLM stimulates DNA strand exchange activity of RAD51. In contrast to the helicase activity of BLM, this stimulation does not require ATP hydrolysis. These data suggest a novel BLM function that is stimulation of the RAD51 DNA pairing. Our results demonstrate the important role of the RAD51 nucleoprotein filament conformation in stimulation of DNA pairing by BLM.Mutations of BLM helicase cause Bloom syndrome (BS),² a rare autosomal disorder, which is associated with stunted growth, facial sun sensitivity, immunodeficiency, fertility defects, and a greatly elevated incidence of many types of cancer occurring at an early age (1). BLM belongs to the highly conserved family of RecQ helicases that are required for the maintenance of genome integrity in all organisms (2, 3). There are five RecQ helicases in humans; mutations in three of them, WRN, RECQ4, and BLM, have been associated with the genetic abnormalities known as Werner, Rothmund-Thomson, and Bloom syndrome, respectively (4, 5). The cells from BS patients display genomic instability; the hallmark of BS is an increase in the frequency of sister chromatid and interhomolog exchanges (1, 6). Because homologous recombination (HR) is responsible for chromosomal exchanges, it is thought that BLM helicase functions in regulating HR (7–9). Also, BLM helicase is required for faithful chromosome segregation (10) and repair of stalled replication forks (11, 12), the processes that are linked to HR (13–15). BLM was found to interact physically with RAD51, a key protein of HR (16) that catalyzes the central steps in HR including the search for homology and the exchange of strands between homologous ssDNA and dsDNA sequences (17). In cells, BLM forms nuclear foci, a subset of which co-localize with RAD51. Interestingly, the extent of RAD51 and BLM co-localization increases in response to ionizing radiation, indicating a possible role of BLM in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (16).Biochemical studies suggest that BLM may perform several different functions in HR. BLM was shown to promote the dissociation of HR intermediates (D-loops) (18–20), branch migration of Holliday junctions (21), and dissolution of double Holliday junctions acting in a complex with TopoIIIα and BLAP75 (22–24). BLM may also facilitate DNA synthesis during the repair process by unwinding the DNA template in front of the replication fork (25). In addition, BLM and its yeast homolog Sgs1 may play a role at the initial steps of DNA double-strand break repair by participating in exonucleolitic resection of the DNA ends to generate DNA molecules with the 3′-ssDNA tails, a substrate for RAD51 binding (26–29).In vivo, the process of HR is tightly regulated by various mechanisms (30). Whereas some proteins promote HR (14, 31), others inhibit this process, thereby preventing its untimely initiation (32, 33). Disruption of the Rad51-ssDNA nucleoprotein filament appears to be an especially important mechanism of controlling HR. This filament disruption activity was demonstrated for the yeast Srs2 helicase (34, 35) and human RECQ5 helicase (36). Recently, we found that BLM can also catalyze disruption of the RAD51-ssDNA filament (25). This disruption only occurs if the filament is present in an inactive ADP-bound form, e.g. in the presence of Mg²⁺. Conversion of RAD51 into an active ATP-bound form, e.g. in the presence of Ca²⁺ (37), renders the filament resistant to BLM disruption (25). In this study, we analyze the interactions of BLM with an active ATP-bound RAD51-ssDNA filament. Surprisingly, we found that BLM stimulates the DNA strand exchange activity of RAD51. Thus, depending on the conformational state of the RAD51 nucleoprotein filament, BLM may either inhibit or stimulate the DNA strand exchange activity of RAD51. Our analysis demonstrated that, in contrast to several known stimulatory proteins that act by promoting formation of the RAD51-ssDNA filament, BLM stimulates the DNA strand exchange activity of RAD51 at a later stage, during synapsis. Stimulation appears to be independent of the ATPase activity of BLM. We suggest that this stimulation of RAD51 may represent a novel function of BLM in homologous recombination.     

Novel Antibody against a Glutamic Acid-Rich Human Fibrinogen-Like Protein 2-Derived Peptide near Ser91 Inhibits hfgl2 Prothrombinase Activity

Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (fgl2) is highly expressed in microvascular endothelial cells in diseases associated with microcirculatory disturbances and plays a crucial role in microthrombosis. Previous studies have demonstrated that the Ser89 residue is a critical site for mouse fgl2 prothrombinase activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the prothrombinase inhibitory ability of antibodies against an hfgl2-derived peptide. The peptide was termed NPG-12 because it is located at the N-terminus of membrane-bound hfgl2, contains 12 amino acid residues (corresponding to residues 76 to 87), and is rich in Glu. This peptide was selected as an antigenic determinant to produce antibodies in immunized rabbits using the DNAStar and HomoloGene software program. Abundant hfgl2 expression was induced in human umbilical vein endothelial cells through treatment with TNF-α. The generated anti-NPG-12 antibodies specifically recognize fgl2, as determined by ELISA, Western Blot and immunostaining. Moreover, one-stage clotting and thrombin generation tests provide evidence that the antibodies can reduce the hfgl2 prothrombinase activity without affecting the platelet-poor plasma prothrombin time (PT) or the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). In addition, the antibodies exerted undetectable influence on the proliferation or activation of bulk T cell populations. In conclusion, the selected peptide sequence NPG-12 may be a critical domain for hfgl2 prothrombinase activity, and the development of inhibitors against this sequence may be promising for research or management of hfgl2-associated microcirculatory disturbances.     

Adiponectin Promotes Revascularization of Ischemic Muscle through a Cyclooxygenase 2-Dependent Mechanism

Adiponectin is a fat-derived plasma protein that has cardioprotective roles in obesity-linked diseases. Because cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is an important modulator of endothelial function, we investigated the possible contribution of COX-2 to adiponectin-mediated vascular responses in a mouse hind limb model of vascular insufficiency. Ischemic insult increased COX-2 expression in endothelial cells of wild-type mice, but this induction was attenuated in adiponectin knockout mice. Ischemia-induced revascularization was impaired in mice in which the Cox-2 gene is deleted in Tie2-Cre-expressing cells. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of adiponectin enhanced COX-2 expression and revascularization of ischemic limbs in control mice, but not in targeted Cox-2-deficient mice. In cultured endothelial cells, adiponectin protein increased COX-2 expression, and ablation of COX-2 abrogated the adiponectin-stimulated increases in endothelial cell migration, differentiation, and survival. Ablation of calreticulin (CRT) or its adaptor protein CD91 diminished adiponectin-stimulated COX-2 expression and endothelial cell responses. These observations provide evidence that adiponectin promotes endothelial cell function through CRT/CD91-mediated increases in COX-2 signaling. Thus, disruption of the adiponectin-COX-2 regulatory axis in endothelial cells could participate in the pathogenesis of obesity-related vascular diseases.Obesity-linked disorders, including type 2 diabetes, are strongly associated with increased mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular diseases due in part to enhanced microvascular rarefaction and reduced collateralization in ischemic tissues (1). Obesity-linked complications are also responsible for perivascular inflammation and hypercoagulability, which contribute to increased vulnerability to ischemic injury and impaired vascular function (32). However, the molecular basis linking obesity to the development of vascular disease is poorly understood.Adiponectin, also known as ACRP30, is an adipocytokine that is clinically linked to various obesity-linked cardiovascular disorders (38, 43). Hypoadiponectinemia is observed in obesity and is associated with a higher prevalence of various cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart diseases and arteriosclerosis obliterans (19, 24, 38). A number of experimental studies have shown that adiponectin knockout (APN-KO) mice display a variety of obesity-linked cardiovascular phenotypes under conditions of stress, including metabolic dysfunction, more severe cardiac damage in response to ischemic injury, and increased intimal hyperplasia (23, 47, 53). We have shown that adiponectin promotes endothelial cell function and revascularization in ischemic hind limbs through a mechanism that is partly mediated by its ability to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) (46).The cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) pathway participates in several vascular protective activities. Whole-body Cox-2-deficient and prostaglandin I₂ (PGI₂) receptor-KO mice exhibit enhanced thrombogenesis and increased blood pressure on a high-salt diet (9, 12, 60). COX-2 inhibitors are widely used as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. COX-2 selective inhibitors are also effective in inhibiting the development and progression of some tumors (50, 56), and these actions are partly mediated by the antiangiogenic properties of these drugs (10, 11). In this regard, increasing evidence suggests that COX-2 selective inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, which is in part attributed to reduced PGI₂ production by vascular endothelial cells (7, 28, 29). However, the vascular protective actions of COX-2 have not been assessed previously in a mouse genetic model that selectively ablates COX-2 in the vascular endothelium.Previous studies have provided a link between adiponectin and COX-2 in nonvascular cell types, including preadipocytes (61), ovarian follicular cells (25), and cardiac myocytes (16, 47). However, nothing is known about the role of COX-2 pathway in the vascular response to adiponectin or in the receptor-mediated signaling pathways that control COX-2 induction by adiponectin. We hypothesized that COX-2 activation is an important mediator of vascular endothelial cell responses to adiponectin. In the present study, we investigated whether genetic ablation of COX-2 in Tie-2-Cre recombinase-expressing cells impairs adiponectin-induced revascularization in a mouse model of chronic vascular insufficiency. We also examined the receptor-mediated signaling events that participate in endothelial cell responses to adiponectin. Our data show that adiponectin promotes revascularization in response to ischemia through COX-2 signaling that involves cell surface calreticulin (CRT) and CD91 as a receptor complex for adiponectin.     

PAXT-1 Promotes XRN2 Activity by Stabilizing It through a Conserved Domain

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The GIP Receptor Displays Higher Basal Activity than the GLP-1 Receptor but Does Not Recruit GRK2 or Arrestin3 Effectively

Background and Objectives

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are important regulators of insulin secretion, and their functional loss is an early characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Pharmacological levels of GLP-1, but not GIP, can overcome this loss. GLP-1 and GIP exert their insulinotropic effects through their respective receptors expressed on pancreatic β-cells. Both the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and the GIP receptor (GIPR) are members of the secretin family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and couple positively to adenylate cyclase. We compared the signalling properties of these two receptors to gain further insight into why GLP-1, but not GIP, remains insulinotropic in T2DM patients.

Methods

GLP-1R and GIPR were transiently expressed in HEK-293 cells, and basal and ligand-induced cAMP production were investigated using a cAMP-responsive luciferase reporter gene assay. Arrestin3 (Arr3) recruitment to the two receptors was investigated using enzyme fragment complementation, confocal microscopy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).

Results

GIPR displayed significantly higher (P<0.05) ligand-independent activity than GLP-1R. Arr3 displayed a robust translocation to agonist-stimulated GLP-1R but not to GIPR. These observations were confirmed in FRET experiments, in which GLP-1 stimulated the recruitment of both GPCR kinase 2 (GRK2) and Arr3 to GLP-1R. These interactions were not reversed upon agonist washout. In contrast, GIP did not stimulate recruitment of either GRK2 or Arr3 to its receptor. Interestingly, arrestin remained at the plasma membrane even after prolonged (30 min) stimulation with GLP-1. Although the GLP-1R/arrestin interaction could not be reversed by agonist washout, GLP-1R and arrestin did not co-internalise, suggesting that GLP-1R is a class A receptor with regard to arrestin binding.

Conclusions

GIPR displays higher basal activity than GLP-1R but does not effectively recruit GRK2 or Arr3.     

植物水通道蛋白活性的调节机制

植物水通道蛋白的活性主要由磷酸化作用、蛋白质异聚化、pH值、Ca2 浓度、环境胁迫、胞内渗透压、温度等因素调节。该文主要从分子生物学角度介绍了与上述因子有关的水通道蛋白活性的调节机制。     

Group X Secretory Phospholipase A2 Regulates Insulin Secretion through a Cyclooxygenase-2-dependent Mechanism

Group X secretory phospholipase A₂ (GX sPLA₂) potently hydrolyzes membrane phospholipids to release arachidonic acid (AA). While AA is an activator of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), its metabolite prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a known inhibitor. In this study, we determined that GX sPLA₂ is expressed in insulin-producing cells of mouse pancreatic islets and investigated its role in beta cell function. GSIS was measured in vivo in wild-type (WT) and GX sPLA₂-deficient (GX KO) mice and ex vivo using pancreatic islets isolated from WT and GX KO mice. GSIS was also assessed in vitro using mouse MIN6 pancreatic beta cells with or without GX sPLA₂ overexpression or exogenous addition. GSIS was significantly higher in islets isolated from GX KO mice compared with islets from WT mice. Conversely, GSIS was lower in MIN6 cells overexpressing GX sPLA₂ (MIN6-GX) compared with control (MIN6-C) cells. PGE2 production was significantly higher in MIN6-GX cells compared with MIN6-C cells and this was associated with significantly reduced cellular cAMP. The effect of GX sPLA₂ on GSIS was abolished when cells were treated with NS398 (a COX-2 inhibitor) or L-798,106 (a PGE2-EP3 receptor antagonist). Consistent with enhanced beta cell function, GX KO mice showed significantly increased plasma insulin levels following glucose challenge and were protected from age-related reductions in GSIS and glucose tolerance compared with WT mice. We conclude that GX sPLA₂ plays a previously unrecognized role in negatively regulating pancreatic insulin secretion by augmenting COX-2-dependent PGE2 production.     

Binding Site and Inhibitory Mechanism of the Mambalgin-2 Pain-relieving Peptide on Acid-sensing Ion Channel 1a

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal proton-gated cation channels associated with nociception, fear, depression, seizure, and neuronal degeneration, suggesting roles in pain and neurological and psychiatric disorders. We have recently discovered black mamba venom peptides called mambalgin-1 and mambalgin-2, which are new three-finger toxins that specifically inhibit with the same pharmacological profile ASIC channels to exert strong analgesic effects in vivo. We now combined bioinformatics and functional approaches to uncover the molecular mechanism of channel inhibition by the mambalgin-2 pain-relieving peptide. Mambalgin-2 binds mainly in a region of ASIC1a involving the upper part of the thumb domain (residues Asp-349 and Phe-350), the palm domain of an adjacent subunit, and the β-ball domain (residues Arg-190, Asp-258, and Gln-259). This region overlaps with the acidic pocket (pH sensor) of the channel. The peptide exerts both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on ASIC1a, and we propose a model where mambalgin-2 traps the channel in a closed conformation by precluding the conformational change of the palm and β-ball domains that follows proton activation. These data help to understand inhibition by mambalgins and provide clues for the development of new optimized blockers of ASIC channels.     

Cell Penetration and Secondary Structure of a Synthetic Peptide with Anti-HIV Activity

Peptidic drugs have many advantages as compared to small chemical molecules; however, they also possess some limitations as their poor membrane transducing properties. Our group has recently reported the potent anti-HIV antiviral activity of CIGB-210, a peptide derived from human keratin 10. Previous experiments showed that this peptide is internalized in MT4 cells. The aim of this study was to expand our knowledge on the uptake of CIGB-210 by assessing the peptide penetration in four other human cell lines. Cells were treated with 10, 20 and 40 µM of fluorescein-labelled CIGB-210 and the percentage of fluorescent cells was determined by flow cytometry at 15 min, 1 and 24 h. The uptake of fluorescein-labelled CIGB-210 in THP-1, HEp-2, HepG2 and PC-3 cell lines was directly proportional to both, peptide concentration and incubation times. However, some differences in the kinetics of cell entry were found. While the initial uptake was faster in HepG2 and PC-3 cells, after 24 h of incubation the percentage of fluorescence cells was equalized, although HEp-2 cells exhibited the higher numbers. The efficiency of CIGB-210 uptake was lower than a control cell penetrating peptide. However, despite the differences found, CIGB-210 was capable of transducing four human cell lines of different origins without any help. Finally, circular dichroism spectrometry data indicated that the peptide adopt a mostly disordered structure in aqueous solution, with an estimated alpha helical content of less than 5%. This study contributes to the characterization of CIGB-210 as a novel drug candidate against HIV/AIDS.     

Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Mauriporin,a Multifunctional Scorpion Venom Peptide

Many pathogenic free living and biofilm forming bacterial organisms can cause serious infections to humans that could consequently have devastating effects on human health. A significant number of these microbial organisms are resistant to almost all known conventional antibiotics and the ability of some these strains to form sessile communities of biofilms increases the resistance ability of bacteria to antibiotic treatment. Global research is currently focused on finding novel therapies to counteract the threat of bacterial and biofilm infections rather than using conventional antibiotics. Mauriporin, a novel cationic α-helical peptide identified from the venom derived cDNA library of the scorpion Androctonus mauritanicus was reported to display selective cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activity against prostate cancer cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of Mauriporin. Our results show that Mauriporin displays potent antimicrobial activities against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative planktonic bacteria with MIC values in the range 5 µM to 10 µM. Mauriporin was also able to prevent Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation while showing weak hemolytic activity towards human erythrocytes. Studies on the mechanism of action of Mauriporin revealed that the peptide is probably inducing bacterial cell death through membrane permeabilization determined by the release of β-galactosidase enzyme from peptide treated Escherichia coli cells. Moreover, DNA binding studies found that Mauriporin can cause potent binding to intracellular DNA. All these results indicate that Mauriporin has a considerable potential for therapeutic application as a novel drug candidate for eradicating bacterial infections.