Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaroslaw Ruczynski, Brygida Parfianowicz, Piotr Mucha, Katarzyna Wisniewska, Lidia Piechowicz, Piotr Rekowski
Summary: Mastoparan is a peptide with antimicrobial properties and various biological activities. Its analogs have potential applications as antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor agents. This study designed and synthesized new Mastoparan analogs, and compared their antibacterial activity and structure. Two analogs were found to have high antibacterial activity, making them attractive targets for further research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andreia Boaro, Lucia Ageitos, Marcelo Der Torossian Torres, Esther Broset Blasco, Sebahat Oztekin, Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
Summary: By utilizing structure-function-guided design, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from venom can be converted into α-helical AMPs with reduced toxicity. These synthetic derivatives exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria and demonstrate efficacy in a mouse model by significantly reducing bacterial loads. Furthermore, they do not readily induce bacterial resistance.
CELL REPORTS PHYSICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jessy Elst, Leander P. De Puysseleyr, Didier G. Ebo, Margaretha A. Faber, Athina L. Van Gasse, Marie-Line M. van der Poorten, Ine I. Decuyper, Chris H. Bridts, Christel Mertens, Michel Van Houdt, Margo M. Hagendorens, Luc S. De Clerck, Anke Verlinden, Katrien Vermeulen, Marie-Berthe Maes, Zwi N. Berneman, Peter Valent, Vito Sabato
Summary: This study compares the burden, phenotype, and behavior of mast cells and basophils in patients with clonal mast cell disorders (CMCD) and other related disorders. The study found that CMCD patients have an elevated burden of aberrant activated mast cells, particularly in patients with wasp venom anaphylaxis. Basophils show similar characteristics and functions across different patient populations.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Roberto de la Salud Bea, Lily J. North, Sakura Horiuchi, Elaine R. Frawley, Qian Shen
Summary: The antibiotic and toxic properties of four synthetic analogs of eumenine mastoparan peptides (EMP) were compared to two natural peptides found in the venom of solitary wasps. Among the synthetic analogs, EMP-AF-OR showed concentration-dependent growth inhibition against all bacterial species tested. Additionally, EMP-ER-D2K2 exhibited activity against Bacillus subtilis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parvesh Wadhwani, Saiguru Sekaran, Erik Strandberg, Jochen Burck, Archana Chugh, Anne S. Ulrich
Summary: The seven peptides from the latarcin family fold into amphiphilic alpha-helices in the presence of lipids, with different levels of aggressiveness and selectivity in antimicrobial activity. Ltc2a stands out as the most aggressive peptide, whereas Ltc1, Ltc3a, Ltc4a, and Ltc5a show efficient and selective antibacterial effects. The other two peptides, Ltc6a and Ltc7, do not have strong antimicrobial activities but can disturb model bilayers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meng-Che Li, Ying-Jie Liu, Kuang-Cheng Hsu, Tse-Hsueh Lin, Chih-Wei Lin, Jia-Cherng Horng, Sheng-Kai Wang
Summary: This article investigates how the interaction between fluorine atoms alters protein structures and develops approaches to synthesize fluorinated peptides. The study systematically explores the effects of the number, location, and types of fluorine groups on the conformation of polyproline peptides.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Katarzyna Ozga, Lukasz Berlicki
Summary: An artificial retroaldolase was developed using a miniprotein derived from MvaT protein. Rational optimization of activity was performed by modifying the active motif, active site structure, and surface charge distribution, showing the potential for obtaining an effective enzyme-like catalyst and tuning its efficiency by optimizing surface charge distribution.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vasileios Stergiou, Dimitrios Krikorian, Anna-Irini Koukkou, Maria Sakarellos-Daitsiotis, Eugenia Panou-Pomonis
Summary: This study focused on the synthesis and biological evaluation of anoplin-based (lipo)-peptides, showing that some analogs have potential clinical value, with Ano 2-C-10 being the most promising for the development of new pharmaceutics. Suitable substitutions in the anoplin sequence combined with N-alpha-acylation may lead to new effective antimicrobial peptides.
JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ye Wu, Dong Lu, Yixin Jiang, Jinmei Jin, Sanhong Liu, Lili Chen, Hong Zhang, Yudong Zhou, Hongzhuan Chen, Dale G. Nagle, Xin Luan, Weidong Zhang
Summary: The study demonstrates that the novel stapled peptides, Ano-3/3s, based on peptide stapling chemistry, show superior protease-resistance and selective cytotoxicity against tumor cells, inducing tumor ablation through direct oncolytic effect and immunogenic cell death. In vivo experiments reveal a more remarkable response to Ano-3/3s in melanoma, suggesting the potential of these peptides as effective agents for oncolytic therapy.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Antonio Laezza, Antonietta Pepe, Brigida Bochicchio
Summary: This study successfully conjugated elastin peptide with methacrylated hyaluronic acid for the production of electrospun scaffolds. The improved processability and characteristics of the conjugated compound were confirmed through morphology and conformation studies.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose L. Neira, David Ortega-Alarcon, Bruno Rizzuti, Martina Palomino-Schatzlein, Adrian Velazquez-Campoy, Alberto Falco
Summary: The study found that by mutating the HPr sequence to increase its helicity, although it led to a slightly larger population of the helical structure of HPr9-30 in solution, the mutants had less favorable affinity to both EI and Rsd compared to the wild-type. Additionally, the mutants showed lower antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Prapenpuksiri Rungsa, Steve Peigneur, Nisachon Jangpromma, Sompong Klaynongsruang, Jan Tytgat, Sakda Daduang
Summary: This study investigates the structure-activity relationship of antimicrobial peptides by analyzing the effect of amino acid substitutions and deletion of C-terminal residues. It is found that phenylalanine substitution increases antibacterial activity, while deletions of C-terminal residues decrease antibacterial and hemolytic activity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lizeth Bodero, Karine Guitot, Nathalie Lensen, Olivier Lequin, Thierry Brigaud, Sandrine Ongeri, Gregory Chaume
Summary: Incorporating a chiral residue at one terminus of a peptide chain can control the screw-sense preference of the helical structure. Introducing a trifluoromethyl group can reverse the screw-sense preference of the 3(10)-helix and serve as a reliable F-19 NMR probe to determine the magnitude and sign assignment of the screw-sense preference.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Lina Rivillas-Acevedo, Rafael Grande-Aztatzi, Eusebio Juaristi, Alberto Vela, Liliana Quintanar
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of different substitutions at positions 94 and 95 in PrP fragments on the ligand field transitions of copper ions, using CD spectroscopy. The presence of specific substitutions resulted in changes in the sign of ligand field transitions, which could be reversed by substituting with different stereoisomers. Overall, the study provides insights into the origin of the Cotton effect in nearly square planar Cu(II)-peptide complexes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Katriann Arja, Robert Selegard, Marketa Paloncyova, Mathieu Linares, Mikael Lindgren, Patrick Norman, Daniel Aili, K. Peter R. Nilsson
Summary: This study reports on the chiro-optical properties and architectural arrangement of optoelectronic materials generated through self-assembly of oligothiophene-porphyrin derivatives and synthetic peptides. The materials exhibit a three-dimensional ordered helical structure and optical activity, making them promising for bioelectronic applications.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giovanni Pacini, Bo Ahren
Summary: Tirzepatide stimulates both insulin secretion and glucose effectiveness, with stimulation of glucose effectiveness being the prominent process to reduce glucose.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Si -yu Wang, Yu-zhe Zhang, Xiao-han Liu, Xue-ci Guo, Xiao-fang Wang, Feng-tong Han, Yao Zhang, Chang -lin Wang
Summary: In the formalin pain test, the EM-2 analogs EM-2-Me, EM-2-Et, and EM-2-Bu showed significant analgesic effects with reduced tolerance and gastrointestinal side effects. These effects were mediated through central opioid mechanisms, with EM-2-Me possibly involving dynorphin A release and EM-2-Bu directly activating multiple opioid receptors.