Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Salvatore La Gatta, Linda Leone, Ornella Maglio, Maria De Fenza, Flavia Nastri, Vincenzo Pavone, Marco Chino, Angela Lombardi
Summary: Understanding the structural determinants for metal ion coordination in metalloproteins is essential for designing metal binding sites with predetermined geometry and activity. In this study, the design, synthesis and metal binding properties of METP3 were reported, demonstrating the suitability of the short METP sequence for accommodating tetrahedral metal binding sites.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Linda Leone, Daniele D'Alonzo, Ornella Maglio, Vincenzo Pavone, Flavia Nastri, Angela Lombardi
Summary: The mini-enzyme Mn-MC6*a shows high product selectivity in promoting indole oxidation, leading to the selective oxidation of indole at its C3 position to produce 3-oxindole derivatives with unprecedented product selectivity. The researchers proposed a possible reaction mechanism, which is significant for the synthesis of fine chemicals containing compounds with 3-oxindole for potential industrial applications.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emily H. H. Edwards, Jennifer M. M. Le, Alison A. A. Salamatian, Noelle L. L. Peluso, Linda Leone, Angela Lombardi, Kara L. L. Bren
Summary: This study reports a system for visible light-driven hydrogen production from water. The system utilizes a synthetic mini-enzyme as a catalyst, which shows advantages in terms of catalyst turnover rate and longevity compared to other cobalt porphyrins. This lays the groundwork for future research to tailor proton reduction chemistry and expand to new reactivity.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angela Cesaro, Rosa Gaglione, Marco Chino, Maria De Luca, Rocco Di Girolamo, Angelina Lombardi, Rosanna Filosa, Angela Arciello
Summary: Topical antimicrobial treatments are often ineffective for stubborn and resistant skin infections, so researchers are designing antimicrobials that are less susceptible to resistance mechanisms and developing appropriate delivery systems. In this study, a novel peptidomimetic inspired by an antimicrobial sequence in human apolipoprotein B was found to have antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties. It was also biocompatible with human skin cells and able to protect keratinocytes from bacterial infections. Additionally, a hyaluronic-acid-based hydrogel was developed to deliver the antimicrobial agent to the infection site.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fabio Pirro, Salvatore La Gatta, Federica Arrigoni, Antonino Famulari, Ornella Maglio, Pompea Del Vecchio, Mario Chiesa, Luca De Gioia, Luca Bertini, Marco Chino, Flavia Nastri, Angela Lombardi
Summary: De novo metalloprotein design is a remarkable method for shaping protein structures to achieve specific functions. In this study, a protein called DR1 was designed and characterized to harbor a di-copper site, mimicking copper-containing polyphenol oxidases. The di-copper site was engineered into a four-helix bundle scaffold through hierarchical design of metal coordination spheres. Spectroscopic, thermodynamic, and functional analyses demonstrated that DR1 exhibited the characteristics of a Type 3 copper site, supporting different copper redox states and catalyzing the oxygen-dependent oxidation of catechols. Careful design of substrate access site residues endowed DR1 with substrate recognition capability.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Rosa Bellavita, Linda Leone, Angela Maione, Lucia Falcigno, Gabriella D'Auria, Francesco Merlino, Paolo Grieco, Flavia Nastri, Emilia Galdiero, Angela Lombardi, Stefania Galdiero, Annarita Falanga
Summary: Ferric iron is necessary for bacterial growth. Pathogenic bacteria use siderophores to chelate ferric iron and colonize host organisms. Conjugating antimicrobial peptides with iron chelators can reduce iron availability and enhance the efficacy of AMPs.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Linda Leone, Gianmattia Sgueglia, Salvatore La Gatta, Marco Chino, Flavia Nastri, Angela Lombardi
Summary: The potential of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable fuel has led to the search for environmentally friendly methods of production, with biological catalysts being the most attractive solution. However, limitations in the production and stability of hydrogenases have hindered their use in scalable hydrogen production. Inspired by nature, significant efforts have been made in developing artificial systems that can mimic the catalytic function of hydrogenases. This review provides an overview of hydrogenases and their integration in devices for hydrogen and energy production, as well as the recent advances in the development of homogeneous hydrogen evolution catalysts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniele D'Alonzo, Maria De Fenza, Vincenzo Pavone, Angela Lombardi, Flavia Nastri
Summary: The development of artificial enzymes for sustainable technologies is challenging, and Fe-MC6*a showed intriguing enzymatic properties in catalyzing halophenol oxidation with substrate-dependent chemoselectivity. 4-fluorophenol was dehalogenated into 1,4-benzoquinone, while 4-chloro, 4-bromo, and 4-iodophenol were selectively converted into higher molecular weight compounds. Analysis of the 4-chlorophenol oxidation products revealed the formation of oligomers based on C-O bonds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Linda Leone, Ana Belen Munoz-Garcia, Daniele D'Alonzo, Vincenzo Pavone, Flavia Nastri, Angela Lombardi
Summary: In the past few decades, efforts have been made to construct protein and peptide-based metalloporphyrin catalysts for selective and difficult transformations. Mechanistic studies are crucial to understand the factors influencing catalytic performances and product selectivity. Our previous work demonstrated the efficiency of the synthetic peptide-porphyrin conjugate MnMC6*a as a catalyst for indole oxidation. In this study, we investigated the role of the metal ion by replacing manganese with iron and found that although product selectivity remained unchanged, FeMC6*a showed lower substrate conversion and prolonged reaction times compared to MnMC6*a.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marco Chino, Luigi Franklin Di Costanzo, Linda Leone, Salvatore La Gatta, Antonino Famulari, Mario Chiesa, Angela Lombardi, Vincenzo Pavone
Summary: Designing metal sites into de novo proteins has made significant progress recently. However, identifying the minimal coordination spheres for metal binding and activity remains a challenge. This study successfully assembled essential elements into a small protein, allowing it to fold around a metal center and function in electron-transfer. The crystal structure of the designed metal-binding protein matched the intended design, enabling correlation between structure and properties.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Attila Tortorella, Linda Leone, Angelina Lombardi, Elio Pizzo, Andrea Bosso, Roland Winter, Luigi Petraccone, Pompea Del Vecchio, Rosario Oliva
Summary: The misuse of antibiotics has resulted in drug-resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) could serve as alternatives to antibiotics, but their susceptibility to degradation restricts their usage. Different strategies have been developed to overcome this issue, and glycosylation of AMPs is a promising approach.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Linda Leone, Flavia Nastri, Angela Lombardi
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gerardo Zambrano, Alina Sekretareva, Daniele D'Alonzo, Linda Leone, Vincenzo Pavone, Angela Lombardi, Flavia Nastri
Summary: The miniaturized metalloenzyme Fe(III)-mimochrome VI*a (Fe(iii)-MC6*a) acts as an excellent biocatalyst in the H2O2-mediated oxidative dehalogenation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP). The artificial enzyme shows a catalytic efficiency up to 1500-fold higher than the natural metalloenzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Spectroscopic analyses indicate a catalytic mechanism involving two consecutive one-electron reactions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
A. De Capua, A. Palladino, M. Chino, C. Attanasio, A. Lombardi, R. Vecchione, P. A. Netti
Summary: The study focuses on the selectivity in tumor targeting by implementing CD44 binding peptide logic onto an oil core-polymer multilayer shell, enabling the selective delivery of therapeutic compounds to cancer cells. The system demonstrates small size, drug loading capability, and active targeting properties, facilitating the accumulation and internalization of nanocapsules in cancer cells through ligand-receptor binding.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ornella Maglio, Marco Chino, Claudia Vicari, Vincenzo Pavone, Ricardo O. Louro, Angela Lombardi
Summary: Fe-Mimochrome VI*a is a synthetic peroxidase and peroxygenase with two different peptides covalently linked to deuteroheme. Shortening the distance between the distal peptide and heme allowed for the separation and characterization of two regioisomers, which differ in activity and axial-ligand orientation. These findings suggest that synthetic metalloenzymes could be useful for understanding the role of axial ligand orientation in peroxidase activity.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
