Maximins S, a novel group of antimicrobial peptides from toad Bombina maxima

Amphibian skin secretions are rich in antimicrobial peptides acting as important components of innate defense system against invading microorganisms. A novel type of peptide, designated as maximin S, was deduced by random sequencing of 793 clones from a constructed Bombina maxima skin cDNA library. The putative primary structures of maximin S peptides can be grouped into five species, in which maximin S1 has 14 amino acid residues and the rest of maximin S peptides (S2-S5) all have 18 amino acid residues. Unlike most of the amphibian antimicrobial peptides so far identified, the newly characterized four maximin S precursors are composed of maximin S1 and different combinations of tandem repeated maximin S2-S5 linked by internal peptides. Except maximin S1, the predicted secondary structures of maximin S2-S5 show a similar amphipathic alpha-helical structure. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis of partially isolated skin secretions of the toad indicates that most of the deduced maximin S peptides are expressed. Two deduced maximin S peptides (S1, S4) were synthesized and their antimicrobial activities were tested. Maximin S4 only had an antibiotic activity against mycoplasma and had no antibacterial or antifungal activity toward tested strains. Maximin S1 had no activity under the same conditions.     

An anionic antimicrobial peptide from toad Bombina maxima

Amphibian skin is a rich resource of antimicrobial peptides like maximins and maximins H from toad Bombina maxima. A novel cDNA clone encoding a precursor protein that comprises maximin 3 and a novel peptide, named maximin H5, was isolated from a skin cDNA library of B. maxima. The predicted primary structure of maximin H5 is ILGPVLGLVSDTLDDVLGIL-NH2. Containing three aspartate residues and no basic amino acid residues, maximin H5 is characterized by an anionic property. Different from cationic maximin H peptides, only Gram-positive strain Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to maximin H5, while the other bacterial and fungal strains tested were resistant to it. The presence of metal ions, like Zn2+ and Mg2+, did not increase its antimicrobial potency. Maximin H5 represents the first example of potential anionic antimicrobial peptides from amphibians. The results provide the first evidence that, together with cationic antimicrobial peptides, anionic antimicrobial peptides may also exist naturally as part of the innate defense system.     

Bm-TFF2, a trefoil factor protein with platelet activation activity from frog Bombina maxima skin secretions

In mammals, trefoil factor family (TFF) proteins are involved in mucosal maintenance and repair, and they are also implicated in tumor suppression and cancer progression. A novel two domain TFF protein from frog Bombina maxima skin secretions (Bm-TFF2) has been purified and cloned. It activated human platelets in a dose-dependent manner and activation of integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) was involved. Aspirin and apyrase did not largely reduce platelet response to Bm-TFF2 (a 30% inhibition), indicating that the aggregation is not substantially dependent on ADP and thromboxane A2 autocrine feedback. Elimination of external Ca(2+) with EGTA did not influence the platelet aggregation induced by Bm-TFF2, meanwhile a strong calcium signal (cytoplasmic Ca(2+) release) was detected, suggesting that activation of phospholipase C (PLC) is involved. Subsequent immunoblotting revealed that, unlike in platelets activated by stejnulxin (a glycoprotein VI agonist), PLCgamma2 was not phosphorylated in platelets activated by Bm-TFF2. FITC-labeled Bm-TFF2 bound to platelet membranes. Bm-TFF2 is the first TFF protein reported to possess human platelet activation activity.     

Establishment, characterization and immortalization of a fibroblast cell line from the Chinese red belly toad Bombina maxima skin

The skin of the amphibian Bombina maxima is rich in biologically active proteins and peptides, most of which have mammalian analogues. The physiological functions of most of the mammalian analogues are still unknown. Thus, Bombina maxima skin may be a promising model to reveal the physiological role of these proteins and peptides because of their large capacity for secretion. To investigate the physiological role of these proteins and peptides in vitro, a fibroblast cell line was successfully established from Bombina maxima tadpole skin. The cell line grew to form a monolayer with cells of a uniform shape and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, which are typical characteristics of fibroblasts. Further identification at a molecular level revealed that they strongly expressed the fibroblast marker protein vimentin. The chromosome number of these cells is 2n = 28, and most of them were diploid. Growth property analysis showed that they grew well for 14 passages. However, cells showed decreased proliferative ability after passage 15. Thus, we tried to immortalize the cells through the overexpression of SV40 T antigen. After selecting by G418, cells stably expressed SV40 large T antigen and showed enhanced proliferative ability and increased telomerase activity. Signal transduction analysis revealed functional p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in immortalized Bombina maxima dermal fibroblasts. Primary fibroblast cells and the immortalized fibroblast cells from Bombina maxima cultured in the present study can be used to investigate the physiological role of Bombina maxima skin-secreted proteins and peptides. In addition, the methods for primary cell culturing and cell immortalization will be useful for culturing and immortalizing cells from other types of amphibians.     

Hainanenins: a novel family of antimicrobial peptides with strong activity from Hainan cascade-frog, Amolops hainanensis

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) secreted by amphibian skin represent an important innate immune defense strategy. There are more than 340 species in the family of Ranidae worldwidely, and from which nearly 100 families of AMPs comprising between 8 and 48 amino acid (aa) residues have been characterized. In current work, two novel AMPs were purified from the skin secretion of Hainan cascade-frog, Amolops hainanensis, and 31 cDNA sequences encoding 10 novel AMPs belonging to 4 families were cloned from the constructed skin cDNA library of A. hainanensis. Among these 10 AMPs, 5 peptides represent the prototypes of a novel amphibian AMP family. According to the generic name of the species of origin, they were designated as hainanenin-1-5. Each of them consists of 21 aa residues with a C-terminal disulphide loop of 7 residues between Cys(15) and Cys(21). Two of them (hainanenin-1 and 5) were then synthesized and their in vitro activities were screened, including antimicrobial, hemolytic and antioxidant activities. The results showed that hainanenin-1 and 5 possessed strong and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, including a large number of clinically isolated drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, and slight antioxidant activity. Undesirably, hainanenin-1 and 5 exhibited strong hemolytic activity on human erythrocytes. The discovery of hainanenins and their great antimicrobial potency provides new templates for anti-infective agent design.     

A novel frog skin peptide containing function to induce muscle relaxation

A novel bioactive peptide (polypedarelaxin 1) was identified from the skin secretions of the tree frog, Polypedates pingbianensis. Polypedarelaxin 1 is composed of 21 amino acid residues with a sequence of QGGLLGKVSNLANDALGILPI. Its primary structure was further confirmed by cDNA cloning and mass spectrometry analysis. Polypedarelaxin 1 was found to elicit concentration-dependent relaxation effects on isolated rat ileum. It has no antimicrobial and serine protease inhibitory activities. BLAST search revealed that polypedarelaxin 1 did not show similarity to known proteins or peptides. Especially, polypedarelaxin 1 do not contain conserved structural motifs of other amphibian myotropic peptides, such as bradykinins, bombesins, cholecystokinin (CCK), and tachykinins, indicating that polypedarelaxin 1 belongs to a novel family of amphibian myotropic peptide.     

Novel antimicrobial peptides isolated from the skin secretions of Hainan odorous frog, Odorrana hainanensis

Long time geographical isolation of Hainan Island from the China continent has resulted in appearance of many novel frog species. As one of them, Hainan odorous frog, Odorrana hainanensis possesses some special antimicrobial peptides distinct from those found in other Odorrana. In this study, three antimicrobial peptides have been purified and characterized from the skin secretion of O. hainanensis. With the similarity to the temporin family, two peptides are characterized by amidated C-terminals, so they are named as temporin-HN1 (AILTTLANWARKFL-NH₂) and temporin-HN2 (NILNTIINLAKKIL-NH₂). The third antimicrobial peptide belongs to the brevinin-1 family which is widely distributed in Eurasian ranids, and thus, it is named as brevinin-1HN1 (FLPLIASLAANFVPKIFCKITKKC). Furthermore, after sequencing 68 clones, eight cDNAs encoding antimicrobial peptide precursors were cloned from the skin-derived cDNA library of O. hainanensis. These eight cDNAs can encode seven mature antimicrobial peptides including the above three, as well as brevinin-1V, brevinin-2HS2, odorranain-A6, and odorranain-B1. Twelve different species of microorganisms were chosen, including Gram-positive, Gram-negative and fungi, to test the antimicrobial activities of temporin-HN1, temporin-HN2, brevinin-1HN1, brevinin-1V, and brevinin-2HS2. The result shows that, in addition to their activities against Gram-positive bacteria, temporin-HN1 and temporin-HN2 also possess activities against some Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. However, the two antimicrobial peptides, brevinin-1HN1 and brevinin-1V of the brevinin-1 family have stronger antimicrobial activities than temporin-HN1 and temporin-HN2 of the temporin family. Brevinin-1HN1 possesses activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923), Rhodococcus rhodochrous X15, and Slime mould 090223 at the concentration of 1.2 μM.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of antimicrobial peptides from skin of the broad-folded frog, Hylarana latouchii

Seven cDNA sequences encoding antimicrobial peptide (AMP) precursors were cloned by screening the skin-derived cDNA library of the broad-folded frog, Hylarana latouchii. Seven of the deduced peptides are highly similar to AMPs in five families of brevinin-2 (brevinin-2LTa, brevinin-2LTb, and brevinin-2LTc), esculentin-1 (esculentin-1LTa), esculentin-2 (esculentin-2LTa), palustrin-2 (palustrin-2LTa), and temporin (temporin-LTe). The actual sequences and characteristics of mature AMPs were analyzed by RP-HPLC and LC–MS/MS-based proteomics approaches in combination of four different protein digestion processes and by LTQ XL in combination of gas-phase fractionation (GPF) analysis. Moreover, most of the peptides found in this study hardly display hemolytic activity in vitro, suggesting they are promising antimicrobial drug candidates.     

Purification and characterization of a novel antimicrobial peptide from Brevibacillus laterosporus strain A60

A novel antimicrobial peptide, with molecular mass of 1602.0469Da, produced by Brevibacillus laterosporus strain A60 was isolated and purified from the soil of mango plants. The purification procedure consisted of ammonium sulfate precipitation, cation exchange chromatography on an HiTrap SP HP column, thin layer chromatography and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) on C18 reversed-phase column. After the four isolation procedures, one peptide with antimicrobial activity was obtained and named BL-A60. The determination of the complete amino acid sequences of this peptide showed that it contains eleven amino acid residues, L-Y-K-L-V-K-V-V-L-N-M, and a choline connected to the N-terminal and a tenuazonic acid modified of the C-terminal. This peptide shows relatively low identification to other antimicrobial peptides from bacteria. Purified BL-A60 showed high pH and thermal stability and a strong inhibition of different stages of the life cycle of Phytophthora capsici, including mycelial growth, sporangia formation and cystospore germination, with EC(50) values of 7.89, 0.60 and 21.96 μg ml(-1), respectively.     

Gene cloning and characterization of novel antinociceptive peptide from the brain of the frog, Odorrana grahami

Amphibian opiate peptides including dermorphins and deltorpins have been recently found only in the skin of South American frogs belonging to the subfamily Phyllomedusinae (Phyllomedusa, Agalychnis and Pachymedusa species). No opiate peptides have ever been identified from other amphibians or organs except skin. Here we report the purification and characterization of a novel antinociceptive peptide named odorranaopin from the homogenates of the frog brains, Odorrana grahami, which is also the first antinociceptive peptide found in Ranidae amphibian. Odorranaopin comprises 17 amino acid residues with the sequence of DYTIRTRLHQESSRKVL (Mr 2102 Da). The cDNA encoding odorranaopin was cloned from the frog brain cDNA library, and it was confirmed to be a specific gene. The odorranaopin precursor deduced is composed of 61 amino acid residues including the predicted signal peptide, acidic spacer peptide and mature odorranaopin positioned at the C-terminus. Odorranaopin could inhibit nociceptive responses induced by formalin and acetic acid. It also inhibited the contractile responses of ileum smooth muscle induced by bradykinin, implying that the antinociceptive activity of odorranaopin possibly results from its blockade on bradykinin or bradykinin receptor functions. Odorranaopin is the first antinociceptive peptide found in Ranidae amphibian.     

Bombinins, antimicrobial peptides from Bombina species

The skin secretions of Bombina species contain peptides and small proteins with interesting biological properties. These include bombesin, thyrotropin releasing hormone, BSTI and Bv8. In this review, the biosynthesis and antimicrobial activity of two groups of peptides, bombinins and bombinins H, are described. To date, these have only been found in Bombina skin. They are derived from common precursors containing one or two bombinin copies at the amino and a single bombinin H at the carboxyl end. Bombinins are active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi but virtually inactive in haemolysis assays. Conversely, bombinins H have lower bactericidal activities but lyse erythrocytes. In the skin secretions, bombinins H are present in two sizes with either 20 or 17 amino acids. Moreover, they occur as epimers with either an l- or a d-amino acid at position 2. An enzyme catalyzing this inversion of chirality of an amino acid in peptide linkage has been isolated from Bombina skin secretions. In different tests, also with different stages of the life cycle of Leishmania parasites, the d-forms were found to be more active. Biophysical studies have yielded some insight into the different behaviours of the epimers in model membranes.     

Aurelin, a novel antimicrobial peptide from jellyfish Aurelia aurita with structural features of defensins and channel-blocking toxins

A novel 40-residue antimicrobial peptide, aurelin, exhibiting activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, was purified from the mesoglea of a scyphoid jellyfish Aurelia aurita by preparative gel electrophoresis and RP-HPLC. Molecular mass (4296.95 Da) and complete amino acid sequence of aurelin (AACSDRAHGHICESFKSFCKDSGRNGVKLRANCKKTCGLC) were determined. Aurelin has six cysteines forming three disulfide bonds. The total RNA was isolated from the jellyfish mesoglea, RT-PCR and cloning were performed, and cDNA was sequenced. A 84-residue preproaurelin contains a putative signal peptide (22 amino acids) and a propiece of the same size (22 amino acids). Aurelin has no structural homology with any previously identified antimicrobial peptides but reveals partial similarity both with defensins and K+ channel-blocking toxins of sea anemones and belongs to ShKT domain family.     

Novel families of antimicrobial peptides with multiple functions from skin of Xizang plateau frog, Nanorana parkeri

Xizang plateau frog (Nanorana parkeri) captured in Lhasa, Tibet, China, solely lives in the subtropical plateau, where there is strong ultraviolet radiation and long duration of sunshine. Considering its harsh living environment, the frog's innate defense against microbes and environmental stress was investigated. In current study, three antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were purified and characterized from the skin secretion of N. parkeri. The coding cDNA sequences were also cloned from the skin cDNA library of N. parkeri. By structural characterization, two peptides were identified belonging to Japonicin-1 family, and named as Japonicin-1Npa (FLLFPLMCKIQGKC) and Japonicin-1Npb (FVLPLVMCKILRKC). The third peptide isolated named Parkerin with a unique sequence of GWANTLKNVAGGLCKITGAA did not show similarity to any known amphibian AMPs. Multi-functions of three AMPs were examined (antioxidant, MCD, hemolytic etc). Their solution structures determined by CD and antimicrobial mechanisms investigated by SEM are very well consistent with their functional characters. Current result suggests that these novel multi-functional AMPs could play an important role in defending N. parkeri against environmental oxidative stress and pathogenic microorganisms, which may partially reveal the ecological adaptation of these plateau-living amphibians.     

An antimicrobial peptide Ar-AMP from amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) seeds

A 30-residue antimicrobial peptide Ar-AMP was isolated from the seeds of amaranth Amaranthus retroflexus L. essentially by a single step procedure using reversed-phase HPLC, and its in vitro biological activities were studied. The complete amino acid sequence of Ar-AMP was determined by Edman degradation in combination with mass spectrometric methods. In addition, the cDNA encoding Ar-AMP was obtained and sequenced. The cDNA encodes a precursor protein consisting of the N-terminal putative signal sequence of 25 amino acids, a mature peptide of 30 amino acids and a 34-residue long C-terminal region cleaved during post-translational processing. According to sequence similarity the Ar-AMP belongs to the hevein-like family of antimicrobial peptides with six cysteine residues. In spite of the fact that seeds were collected in 1967 and lost their germination capacity, Ar-AMP retained its biological activities. It effectively inhibited the growth of different fungi tested: Fusarium culmorium (Smith) Sacc., Helminthosporium sativum Pammel., King et Bakke, Alternaria consortiale Fr., and Botrytis cinerea Pers., caused morphological changes in Rhizoctonia solani Kühn at micromolar concentrations and protected barley seedlings from H. sativum infection.     

A novel antimicrobial peptide from skin secretions of the earthworm, Pheretima guillelmi (Michaelsen)

A novel lumbricin-like antimicrobial peptide named lumbricin-PG was isolated from skin secretions of the earthworm, Pheretima guillelmi (Michaelsen), using a procedure of one step Sephadex G-50 gel filtration and one step C₈ reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Its amino acid sequence was determined as FSRYARMRDSRPWSDRKNNYSGPQFTYPPEKAPPEKLIKWNN EGSPIFEMPAEGGHIEP by Edman degradation combined with cDNA cloning and mass spectrometry analysis. The cDNA encoding lumbricin-PG was cloned by cDNA library screening. The predicted protein from the cDNA sequence was composed of 73 amino acid residues including a mature lumbricin-PG and predicted signal peptide. It showed similarity with lumbricin antimicrobial peptide from the earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus by BLAST search. Purified lumbricin-PG exerted potential antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi; it showed weak hemolysis activity against human and rabbit red cells.     

A novel myotropic peptide from the skin secretions of the tree frog, Polypedates pingbianensis

A novel myotropic peptide, polypedatein, was purified and characterized from the skin secretions of the tree frog, Polypedates pingbianensis. Its primary structure, TLLCKYFAIC, was determined by Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. Polypedatein was subjected to bioassays including myotropic, antimicrobial, and serine protease inhibitory activities, which are related with many amphibian skin bioactive peptides. It was found to elicit concentration-dependent contractile effects on isolated rat ileum. cDNA clones encoding the precursor of polypedatein were isolated by screening a skin cDNA library of P. pingbianensis and then sequenced. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA sequences matches well with the result from Edman degradation. BLAST search revealed that the sequence of polypedatein did not show similarity to known protein or peptide sequences. Especially, polypedatein does not contain conserved structural motifs of other amphibian myotropic peptides, such as bradykinins, bombesins, cholecystokinin (CCK), and tachykinins, indicating that polypedatein belongs to a novel amphibian myotropic peptide family. The signal peptide of the precursor encoding polypedatein shows significant sequence identity to that of other amphibian skin defensive peptides, such as antimicrobial peptides, bradykinins, lectins, and serine protease inhibitors, suggesting that polypedatein belongs to a novel amphibian myotropic peptide family. Polypedatein is also the first bioactive peptide from the genus of the frog, Polypedates.     

Two families of antimicrobial peptides with multiple functions from skin of rufous-spotted torrent frog, Amolops loloensis

There are around 27 species of Amolops amphibian distributed in South-east of Asia. Seven antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) belonging to two different families were purified from skin of rufous-spotted torrent frog, Amolops loloensis, and designated brevinins-ALa, b, c, and d, and temporins-ALa, b, and c. The brevinins-AL family which is structurally related to brevinins-1 from skin secretions of the European frog, Rana brevipoda, is composed of 24 amino acids and has an intra-disulfide bridge at the C-terminus. The temporins-AL family, composed of 13 or 16 amino acid residues, is related with temporins from the skin secretions of R. temporaria. The findings of this study will facilitate the solutions to the taxonomic questions of the ranid genus Amolops and Staurois. In the work of this paper, both brevinins-ALb and temporin-Ma induced mast cell degranulation and histamine release, and had cytotoxic activity toward solid tumor cell line HepG₂. Brevinins-ALb also exerted strong hemolytic activity while temporin-Ma had no such activity.     

Two novel families of antimicrobial peptides from skin secretions of the Chinese torrent frog, Amolops jingdongensis

The characterization of new natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can help to solve the serious problem of bacterial resistance to currently used antibiotics. In the current study, we analyzed two families of AMPs from the Chinese torrent frog Amolops jingdongensis with a range of bioactivities. The first family of peptides, named jindongenin-1a, is 24 amino acids in length; a BLAST search of jindongenin-1a revealed no sequence similarity with other AMPs. The second family consists of two peptides containing 29 amino acid residues each. These peptides have high sequence similarity with the AMPs of palustrin-2 and are therefore designated palustrin-2AJ1 and palustrin-2AJ2. The cDNA sequences encoding these AMPs have been cloned and the deduced protein sequence of each AMP has been determined by protein sequencing. Sequence and structural analysis showed that each precursor is composed of a putative signal peptide, an N-terminal spacer, a processing site and a disulfide-bridged heptapeptide segment at the C-terminus. We synthesized jindongenin-1a and palustrin-AJ1 to test their antimicrobial, hemolytic, antioxidative and cytotoxic activities. These two peptides showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity to standard and clinically isolated strains of bacteria. In addition, they exhibited weak hemolytic activity to human and rabbit erythrocytes under our experimental conditions. Moreover, these peptides also displayed cytotoxic activity against the K562 and HT29 mammalian cell lines and low anti-oxidant activity. These findings provide helpful insight that will be useful in the design of anti-infective peptide agents.     

Acylated quercetagetin glycosides with antioxidant activity from Tagetes maxima

The fractionation of a methanolic extract of Tagetes maxima guided for antioxidant activity resulted in the isolation of three acylated quercetagetin glycosides, quercetagetin-7-O-(6-O-caffeoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside), quercetagetin-7-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside) and quercetagetin-7-O-(6-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside), as well as four known flavonoid glycosides. The structural elucidation was accomplished by spectroscopic methods (ESI-MS/MS and NMR). The antioxidant activity of fractions and isolated compounds was determined by checking the scavenging activity against three different radicals: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH*), hydroxyl (*OH), and superoxide (O2*-). The three isolated compounds exhibited a high radical scavenging activity in comparison with reference compounds.     

Functional expression,purification, and antimicrobial activity of a novel antimicrobial peptide MLH in Escherichia coli

In this study, a novel heterozygous antimicrobial peptide MLH was synthesized, expressed, purified, and characterized. The peptide Md-cec-LL-37_Hp (MLH) was selected through bioinformatic analysis using musca domestica antimicrobial peptide (Cec-Med), human antimicrobial peptide LL-37, and helicobacter pylori antimicrobial peptide (Hp) as parent peptides. The target gene was synthesized by overlap extension PCR (SOE-PCR) and connected to the expression vector pET-32a (+), and the recombinant plasmid pET-32a-MLH was transformed to Escherichia coli for constructing pET-32a-MLH/BL21 (DE3). Isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) was used to induce protein expression, and SDS-PAGE and western blot were adopted to test the target protein. And fermentation condition was optimized to get the mass expression of the fusion protein. The Ni²⁺ affinity chromatographic column was used to purify. Active heterozygous peptide was obtained after renaturation. Finally, the activity of the heterozygous antimicrobial peptide was identified. The fusion peptide showed significant antimicrobial effect on both E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.