Insight into antioxidant properties of milk‐derived bioactive peptides in vitro and in a cellular model

Milk is a nutritionally important source of bioactive peptides with anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. These compounds can be useful as ingredients of functional food. For this reason, in the last decades, bioactive peptides attracted the interest of researchers and food companies. In this work, the results obtained with six milk‐derived bioactive peptides (Y‐4‐R, V‐6‐R, V‐7‐K, A‐10‐F, R‐10‐M, and H‐9‐M) synthesized and studied for their antioxidant properties in vitro and in a cellular model, are reported. These molecules correspond to peptide fragments derived from parent compounds able to cross the apical membrane of Caco‐2 cell layer and released in the basolateral compartment. In vitro, antioxidant tests such as 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and crocin bleaching showed antioxidant activity mainly for peptides Y‐4‐R and V‐6‐R, respectively. In Caco‐2 cells, peptides V‐6‐R, H‐9‐R, Y‐4‐R, and particularly R‐10‐M and V‐7‐K are able to prevent the decrease of viability due to oxidative stress. The latter peptide is also the most effective in protecting cells from lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, the reported hydrolyzed peptides are shown to exert the antioxidant properties both in vitro and in a cellular model.     

The pH sensitivity of histidine‐contain‐ ing lytic peptides

Many bioactive peptides are featured by their unique amino acid compositions such as argine/lysine‐rich peptides. However, histidine‐rich bioactive peptides are hardly found. In this study, histidine‐containing peptides were constructed by selectively replacing the corresponded lysine residues in a lytic peptide LL‐1 with histidines. Interestingly, all resulting peptides demonstrated pH‐dependent activities. The cell lysis activities of these peptides could be increased up to four times as the solution pHs dropped from pH = 7.4 to pH = 5.5. The pH sensitivity of a histidine‐containing peptide was determined by histidine substitution numbers. Peptide derivatives with more histidines were associated with increased pH sensitivity. Results showed that not the secondary structures but pH‐affected cell affinity changes were responsible for the pH‐dependent activities of histidine‐containing peptides. The histidine substitution approach demonstrated here may present a general strategy to construct bioactive peptides with desired pH sensitivity for various applications. Copyright © 2009 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

市售酸奶中乳酸菌的鉴定与耐药性

[目的]检测市售酸奶中乳酸菌的种类及其耐药情况.[方法]收集10种来自5个不同厂家的酸奶,通过细菌基因组重复基因外回文序列-PCR (repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR,rep-PCR)结合16S rRNA同源性分析的方法对分离的乳酸菌进行基因分型和菌种鉴定.利用药敏纸片扩散法(K-B法)对分离的乳酸菌进行针对7种抗生素的药敏实验,用PCR特异性扩增结合测序的方法检测每个样品中不同基因型菌株的耐药基因(包括红霉素耐药基因erm A、erm B和四环素耐药基因tetM、tetK、tet S、tetQ、tetO、tetL、tetW).[结果]10种市售酸奶中分离到100株乳酸菌.其中,德氏乳杆菌保加利亚亚种(Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp.bulgaricus)23株,干酪乳杆菌(Lactobacillus casei)26株,嗜热链球菌(Streptococcus thermophilus)30株,嗜酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acidophilus)5株,植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)6株,副干酪乳杆菌(Lactobacillus paracasei)10株.药敏实验发现所有100株乳酸菌均对链霉素和庆大霉素耐药,42株对万古霉素耐药,没有菌株对头孢氨苄,四环素,红霉素以及土霉素耐药.在28株经过16S rRNA测序的乳酸菌中检测到5种不同的耐药基因,在8株乳酸菌中检测到erm B基因,4株检测到tetK基因,2株菌检测到tetL基因,4株菌检测到tet M基因,2株菌检测到tet O基因,没有检测到erm A,tet S,tet Q,tet W基因.28株乳酸菌中有15株(53.57%)检测到耐药基因,其中有4株L delbrueckii ssp.bulgaricus检测到2-3种不同的耐药基因.[结论]本研究在市售酸奶中除了检测到商品标签上标注的L.delbrueckii ssp.bulgaricus和S.thermophilus以外,还检测到商标上没有标注的乳酸菌;作为常用发酵剂的德氏乳杆菌保加利亚亚种和嗜热链球菌更容易检测到耐药基因;分离得到的乳酸菌均对红霉素和四环素敏感却检测到相应的耐药基因,再一次证明了没有耐药表型的菌株也可能携带耐药基因.     

Identification and characterization of two novel antimicrobial peptides,temporin‐Ra and temporin‐Rb,from skin secretions of the marsh frog (Rana ridibunda)

In this study, two novel antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretions of the marsh frog, Rana ridibunda, named temporin‐Ra and temporin‐Rb, were identified and purified using RP‐HPLC. Temporin‐Ra and temporin‐Rb are composed of 14 and 12 amino acids, respectively. Our results show that these peptides have inhibitory effects on both gram‐negative and gram‐positive bacteria, especially antibiotic resistant strains prevalent in hospitals, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae. The sequences and molecular weights of these peptides were determined using tandem MS. The molecular masses were found to be 1242.5 Da for temporin‐Rb and 1585.1 Da for temporin‐Ra. Human red blood cells tolerated well exposure to temporin‐Ra and temporin‐Rb, which, at a concentration of 60 µg/ml, induced 1.3% and 1.1% hemolysis, respectively. MIC values of these peptides are suitable for potent antimicrobial peptides. The low hemolytic effect and wide‐spectrum antimicrobial activity suggest a possible therapeutic application of these novel peptides. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Peptide array‐based characterization and design of ZnO‐high affinity peptides

Peptides with both an affinity for ZnO and the ability to generate ZnO nanoparticles have attracted attention for the self‐assembly and templating of nanoscale building blocks under ambient conditions with compositional uniformity. In this study, we have analyzed the specific binding sites of the ZnO‐binding peptide, EAHVMHKVAPRP, which was identified using a phage display peptide library. The peptide binding assay against ZnO nanoparticles was performed using peptides synthesized on a cellulose membrane using the spot method. Using randomized rotation of amino acids in the ZnO‐binding peptide, 125 spot‐synthesized peptides were assayed. The peptide binding activity against ZnO nanoparticles varied greatly. This indicates that ZnO binding does not depend on total hydrophobicity or other physical parameters of these peptides, but rather that ZnO recognizes the specific amino acid alignment of these peptides. In addition, several peptides were found to show higher binding ability compared with that of the original peptides. Identification of important binding sites in the EAHVMHKVAPRP peptide was investigated by shortened, stepwise sequence from both termini. Interestingly, two ZnO‐binding sites were found as 6‐mer peptides: HVMHKV and HKVAPR. The peptides identified by amino acid substitution of HKVAPR were found to show high affinity and specificity for ZnO nanoparticles. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;106: 845–851. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A RP‐HPLC‐DAD‐APCI/MSD method for the characterisation of medicinal Ericaceae used by the Eeyou Istchee Cree First Nations

Introduction – Ericaceae medicinal plants are traditionally used by the Eeyou Istchee Cree and other northern peoples of North America to treat type 2 diabetic symptoms. Because of the importance of phenolics as potential cures for degenerative diseases including type 2 diabetes, an analytical method was developed to detect them in the leaf extracts of 14 Ericaceae plants. Objective – To develop an optimised method which is applicable to a relatively large number of Ericaceae plants using their leaf extracts. For this purpose phenolics with a wide range of polarity, including a glucosylated benzoquinone, two phenolic acids, three flavanols, a flavanone, a flavone and five flavonols, were included in this study. Methodology – Characterisation of phytochemicals in extracts was undertaken by automated matching to the UV spectra to those of an in house library of plant secondary metabolites and the authentication of their identity was achieved by reversed phase‐high‐performance chromatography–diode array detection–atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation/mass selective detection. Results – Twenty‐six phenolics were characterised within 26 min of chromatographic separation in 80% ethanol extracts of 14 Ericaceae plants. The calibration curves were linear within 0.5–880 µg/g dry mass of the plant with regression values better than 0.995. The limits of detection ranged from 0.3 for µg/mL for (+)‐catechin to 2.6 µg/mL for chlorogenic acid. This is a first study dealing with relatively large number of Ericaceae extracts and is applicable to other plants of same family. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Trifluoroethanol‐containing RP‐HPLC mobile phases for the separation of transmembrane peptides human glycophorin‐A,integrin alpha‐1, and p24: analysis and prevention of potential side reactions due to formic acid

Reversed‐phase high‐pressure liquid chromatography analysis and purification of three hydrophobic, aggregation‐prone peptides, composed mainly of the transmembrane (TM) sequence, were performed using elution systems containing 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol (TFE). The addition of 10–16% TFE to a common mobile phase, such as a water/acetonitrile/propanol (PrOH) or a water/PrOH/formic acid system, markedly improved the chromatographic separation of these peptides. The superior performance of TFE‐containing systems in separating peptides over water/PrOH/formic acid systems [Bollhagen R. et al., J. Chromatogr. A, 1995; 711 : 181–186.] clearly demonstrated that adding TFE to the mobile phase is one of best methods for TM‐peptide purification. Characterization of the potential side reactions using MALDI and ESI‐LIT/Orbitrap mass spectrometry indicated that prolonged incubation of peptides in a mixture of TFE–formic acid possibly induces O‐formylation of the Ser residue and N‐formylation of the N‐terminus of peptides. The conditions for selective removal of the formyl groups from TM peptides were also screened. We believe that these results will expand our ability to analyze and prepare hydrophobic, aggregation‐prone TM peptides and proteins. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analogues of the frog skin peptide alyteserin‐2a with enhanced antimicrobial activities against Gram‐negative bacteria

The emergence of strains of multidrug‐resistant Gram‐negative bacteria mandates a search for new types of antimicrobial agents. Alyteserin‐2a (ILGKLLSTAAGLLSNL.NH₂) is a cationic, α‐helical peptide, first isolated from skin secretions of the midwife toad, Alytes obstetricans, which displays relatively weak antimicrobial and haemolytic activities. Increasing the cationicity of alyteserin‐2a while maintaining amphipathicity by the substitution Gly¹¹→ Lys enhanced the potency against both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria by between fourfold and 16‐fold but concomitantly increased cytotoxic activity against human erythrocytes by sixfold (mean concentration of peptide producing 50% cell death; LC₅₀ = 24 µm ). Antimicrobial potency was increased further by the additional substitution Ser⁷→Lys, but the resulting analogue remained cytotoxic to erythrocytes (LC₅₀ = 38 µm ). However, the peptide containing d ‐lysine at positions 7 and 11 showed high potency against a range of Gram‐negative bacteria, including multidrug‐resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (minimum inhibitory concentration = 8 µm ) but appreciably lower haemolytic activity (LC₅₀ = 185 µm ) and cytotoxicity against A549 human alveolar basal epithelial cells (LC₅₀ = 65 µm ). The analogue shows potential for treatment of nosocomial pulmonary infections caused by bacteria that have developed resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Peptide ligand‐mediated endocytosis of nanoparticles to cancer cells: Cell receptor‐binding‐ versus cell membrane‐penetrating peptides

The endocytosis‐mediating performances of two types of peptide ligands, cell receptor binding peptide (CRBP) and cell membrane penetrating peptide (CMPP), were analyzed and compared using a common carrier of peptide ligands‐human ferritin heavy chain (hFTH) nanoparticle. Twenty‐four copies of a CMPP(human immunodeficiency virus‐derived TAT peptide) and/or a CRBP (peptide ligand with strong and specific affinity for either human integrin(α_vβ₃) or epidermal growth factor receptor I (EGFR) that is overexpressed on various cancer cells) were genetically presented on the surface of each hFTH nanopariticle. The quantitative level of endocytosis and intracellular localization of fluorescence dye‐labeled CRBP‐ and CMPP‐presenting nanoparticles were estimated in the in vitro cultures of integrin‐ and EGFR‐overexpressing cancer and human dermal fibroblast cells(control). From the cancer cell cultures treated with the CMPP‐ and CRBP‐presenting nanoparticles, it was notable that CRBPs resulted in quantitatively higher level of endocytosis than CMPP (TAT) and successfully transported the nanoparticles to the cytosol of cancer cells depending on concentration and treatment period of time, whereas TAT‐mediated endocytosis localized most of the nanoparticles within endosomal vesicles under the same conditions. These novel findings provide highly useful informations to many researchers both in academia and in industry who are interested in developing anticancer drug delivery systems/carriers.     

Houben‐Weyl on peptides and peptidomimetics

The new five‐volume Houben‐Weyl treatise on the Synthesis of Peptides and Peptidomimetics is reviewed and recommended. Copyright © 2003 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lipid interactions of acylated tryptophan‐methylated lactoferricin peptides by solid‐state NMR

Lactoferricin (LfB) is a 25‐residue innate immunity peptide released by pepsin from the N‐terminal region of bovine lactoferrin. A smaller amidated peptide, LfB6 (RRWQWR‐NH₂) retains antimicrobial activity and is thought to constitute the “antimicrobial active‐site” (Tomita, Acta Paediatr Jpn. 1994; 36 : 585–91). Here we report on N‐acylation of 1‐Me‐Trp⁵‐LfB6, Cn‐RRWQ[1‐Me‐W]R‐NH₂, where Cn is an acyl chain having n = 0, 2, 4, 6 or 12 carbons. Tryptophan 5 (Trp⁵) was methylated to enhance membrane binding and to allow for selective deuteration at that position. Peptide/lipid interactions of Cn‐RRWQ[1‐Me‐W ]R‐NH₂ (deuterated 1‐Me‐Trp⁵ underlined), were monitored by solid state ³¹P NMR and ²H NMR. The samples consisted of macroscopically oriented bilayers of mixed neutral (dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, DMPC) and anionic (dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol, DMPG) lipids in a 3:1 ratio with Cn‐RRWQ[&1‐Me‐W ]R‐NH₂ peptides added at a 1:25 peptide to lipid ratio. ²H‐NMR spectra reveal that the acylated peptides are well aligned in DMPC:DMPG bilayers. The ²H NMR quadrupolar splittings suggest that the 1‐Me‐Trp is located in a motionally restricted environment, indicating partial alignment at the membrane interface. ³¹P‐NMR spectra reveal that the lipids are predominantly in a bilayer configuration, with little perturbation by the peptides. Methylation alone, in C0‐RRWQ[1‐Me‐W ]R‐NH₂, resulted in a 3–4 fold increase in antimicrobial activity against E. coli. N‐acylation with a C12 fatty acid enhanced activity almost 90 fold. Copyright © 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Direct specific rotation measurements of amino acids,dipeptides, and tripeptides by laser‐based polarimetry

This paper addresses direct HPLC detection of amino acids, di and tripeptides via laser‐based polarimetry. Mass detection limits typically range from 0.5 to 50 μg injected on‐column, corresponding to concentration levels from 0.1 to 1 mg/ml. These levels are 1 to 2 orders of magnitude lower than measurements with conventional polarimetry, implying that concentration‐dependent phenomena (e.g., solute dimerization) are minimized. This is the first published report of the specific rotation of the di and tripeptides of Ala and Phe. The relationship between pH and specific rotation of selected amino acids, peptides, and lysozyme is described. Chirality 11:187–194, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

石磺海牛共附生细菌的分离和活性菌株筛选

[目的]研究深圳大鹏半岛海域石磺海牛中可培养的共附生细菌的数量和种类,并对分离获得菌株的代谢产物进行活性筛选.[方法]通过R2A平板培养、分离纯化和16S rRNA测序,分析鉴定石磺海牛中5个部位可培养细菌;使用分离菌株的菌液及发酵液上清,测定对群体感应信号分子降解的活性和抗生物膜活性.[结果]从石磺海牛中共分离到21...     

Evaluation of lipid‐binding properties of the N‐terminal helical segments in human apolipoprotein A‐I using fragment peptides

Although the N‐terminal region in human apolipoprotein (apo) A‐I is thought to stabilize the lipid‐free structure of the protein, its role in lipid binding is unknown. Using synthetic fragment peptides, we examined the lipid‐binding properties of the first 43 residues (1–43) of apoA‐I in comparison with residues 44–65 and 220–241, which have strong lipid affinity in the molecule. Circular dichroism measurements demonstrated that peptides corresponding to each segment have potential propensity to form α‐helical structure in trifluoroethanol. Spectroscopic and thermodynamic measurements revealed that apoA‐I (1–43) peptide has the strong ability to bind to lipid vesicles and to form α‐helical structure comparable to apoA‐I (220–241) peptide. Substitution of Tyr‐18 located at the center of the most hydrophobic region in residues 1–43 with a helix‐breaking proline resulted in the impaired lipid binding, indicating that the α‐helical structure in this region is required to trigger the lipid binding. In contrast, apoA‐I (44–65) peptide exhibited a lower propensity to form α‐helical structure upon binding to lipid, and apoA‐I (44–65/S55P) peptide exhibited diminished, but not completely impaired, lipid binding, suggesting that the central region of residues 44–65 is not pivotally involved in the formation of the α‐helical structure and lipid binding. These results indicate that the most N‐terminal region of apoA‐I molecule, residues 1–43, contributes to the lipid interaction of apoA‐I through the hydrophobic helical residues. Copyright © 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isolation of alkane‐degrading bacteria from deep‐sea Mediterranean sediments

Aims: To isolate and identify alkane‐degrading bacteria from deep‐sea superficial sediments sampled at a north‐western Mediterranean station. Methods and Results: Sediments from the water/sediment interface at a 2400 m depth were sampled with a multicorer at the ANTARES site off the French Mediterranean coast and were promptly enriched with Maya crude oil as the sole source of carbon and energy. Alkane‐degrading bacteria belonging to the genera Alcanivorax, Pseudomonas, Marinobacter, Rhodococcus and Clavibacter‐like were isolated, indicating that the same groups were potentially involved in hydrocarbon biodegradation in deep sea as in coastal waters. Conclusions: These results confirm that members of Alcanivorax are important obligate alkane degraders in deep‐sea environments and coexist with other degrading bacteria inhabiting the deep‐subsurface sediment of the Mediterranean. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results suggest that the isolates obtained have potential applications in bioremediation strategies in deep‐sea environments and highlight the need to identify specific piezophilic hydrocarbon‐degrading bacteria (HCB) from these environments.     

A convenient microwave‐enhanced solid‐phase synthesis of short chain N‐methyl‐rich peptides

Structural modification of the peptide backbone via N‐methylation is a powerful tool to modulate the pharmacokinetic profile and biological activity of peptides. Here we describe a rapid and highly efficient microwave(MW)‐assisted Fmoc/tBu solid‐phase method to prepare short chain N‐methyl‐rich peptides, using Rink amide p‐methylbenzhydrylamine (MBHA) resin as solid‐phase support. This method produces peptides in high yield and purity, and reduces the time required for Fmoc‐N‐methyl amino acid coupling. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.