Article
Biophysics
Jose L. S. Lopes, Caio C. F. Araujo, Rogerio C. Neves, Jochen Burck, Sheila G. Couto
Summary: This study investigated the physicochemical properties and mechanism of action of two small antimicrobial peptides, temporin-Ra and temporin-Rb, originally isolated from the skin of the European marsh frog. The peptides were found to adsorb at lipid surfaces, disrupt lipid packing, and undergo a disorder-to-helix transition in specific environments. The binding of the peptides to membrane models was influenced by negatively charged lipids. These findings are important for the development of peptide-based anti-infective drugs.
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Filomena Battista, Rosario Oliva, Pompea Del Vecchio, Roland Winter, Luigi Petraccone
Summary: LL-III, a cationic antimicrobial peptide, exhibits strong toxicity to bacteria, fungi, and tumors, with low toxicity to eukaryotic cells. Studies have shown that LL-III interacts preferentially with anionic lipids, inducing the formation of lipid domains and increasing membrane permeability in a non-disruptive manner, indicating intracellular targeting mode of action. This peptide also shows interaction with plasmid DNA, suggesting a possible intracellular target.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia De Rosa, Donatella Diana, Rossella Di Stasi, Alessandra Romanelli, Michele F. M. Sciacca, Danilo Milardi, Carla Isernia, Roberto Fattorusso, Luca D. D'Andrea
Summary: Replacing leucine 10 in the QK peptide with different hydrophobic amino acids leads to changes in helical content and thermal stability, depending on the type of interaction that could be established between Leu7 and the residue in position 10. Interestingly, the changes in helical content and thermal stability are not always correlated, highlighting the complex nature of these interactions.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Pedro J. Garcia-Moreno, Jack Yang, Simon Gregersen, Nykola C. Jones, Claire C. Berton-Carabin, Leonard M. C. Sagis, Soren Hoffmann, Paolo Marcatili, Michael T. Overgaard, Egon B. Hansen, Charlotte Jacobsen
Summary: The study explored how the composition of peptides at the emulsion interface affects the physical and oxidative stability of the emulsion. Peptides with α-helical conformation at the interface led to poor stability, while those with β-strand structure showed higher stability. Peptides with negative surface charge attracted cationic metal ions, decreasing oxidative stability, while peptides with positive charge repelled cationic metal ions, enhancing oxidative stability.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Munehiro Kumashiro, Ryoga Tsuji, Shoma Suenaga, Koichi Matsuo
Summary: The antimicrobial peptide magainin 2 (M2) interacts with bacterial cell membranes and causes structural damage. This study investigates the conformation and orientation of M2 on lipid membranes, as well as the mechanism of membrane-mediated oligomerization of M2. The results suggest that the formation of beta-strand oligomers plays a crucial role in the disruption of the cell membrane.
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, Physical
Qin Yang, Josef Kapitan, Petr Bour, Julien Bloino
Summary: Combining Raman scattering and Raman optical activity (ROA) with computer simulations allows for the characterization of chiral molecules' fine structure and physicochemical properties. This study presents an accurate and simple approach based on three-quanta anharmonic perturbative mode, showing the significance of anharmonic Raman and ROA spectroscopies in understanding chiral molecules' vibrations and calibrating computational models.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
J. Michael Conlon, Laure Guilhaudis, Samir Attoub, Laurent Coquet, Jerome Leprince, Thierry Jouenne, Milena Mechkarska
Summary: Peptidomic analysis of skin secretions from Boana boans frogs led to the isolation and structural characterization of five host-defense peptides with limited structural similarity to figainin 2 and picturin peptides. These peptides showed antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity against human tumor-derived cells.
Article
Optics
David Ayuso, Andres F. Ordonez, Piero Decleva, Misha Ivanov, Olga Smirnova
Summary: This study demonstrates the strong chiral response in chiral molecules induced by elliptically polarized light through purely electric-dipole interactions, without the participation of the magnetic component. This strong chiro-optical response, which is usually hidden in standard HHG experiments, can be mapped into the macroscopic far-field signal using a non-collinear configuration, providing new opportunities for imaging chiral matter and chiral dynamics on ultrafast time scales.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andras Micsonai, Eva Moussong, Frank Wien, Eszter Boros, Henrietta Vadaszi, Nikoletta Murvai, Young-Ho Lee, Tamas Molnar, Matthieu Refregiers, Yuji Goto, Agnes Tantos, Jozsef Kardos
Summary: The BeStSel method is a powerful tool for analyzing protein secondary structure composition, providing accurate information and predicting protein folding down to the topology/homology level. It also helps distinguish intrinsically disordered proteins and assists in experimental verification and in silico modeling using CD spectroscopy.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Marta Koscak, Ivona Krosl, Biserka Zinic, Ivo Piantanida
Summary: In this study, novel peptidoids were synthesized by replacing and extending amino acids in a peptide sequence, and these peptidoids demonstrated similar metal ion binding properties as the parent peptide. Some of the peptidoids showed high affinity to Cu2+ ions and exhibited fluorescent and chiral circular dichroism responses upon Cu2+ ion binding. Additionally, these peptidoids were capable of binding to DNA and RNA, and Cu2+ ions were found to enhance the stability of the peptidoid-DNA/RNA complexes. These findings provide important insights for further investigations on the interaction between peptides and metal ions.
Article
Optics
Kun Zhang, Yan Liu, Shixia Li, Feng Xia, Weijin Kong
Summary: This work introduces an actively tunable bi-functional metamirror based on a bi-layer graphene structure, which can achieve spin-selective absorption and polarization conversion under different polarization conditions, with stable performance.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tammo Diercks, Francisco J. Medrano, Forrest G. FitzGerald, Donella Beckwith, Martin Jaeger Pedersen, Mark Reihill, Anna-Kristin Ludwig, Antonio Romero, Stefan Oscarson, Mare Cudic, Hans-Joachim Gabius
Summary: The functional pairing between cellular glycoconjugates and tissue lectins like galectins has significant physiological implications. Nonhydrolysable derivatives of natural O-glycans, such as S- and Se-glycosides, facilitate the study of these interactions. By evaluating Se-77 NMR detection methods with SeDG and human galectin-1 and -3, it was found that SeDG binding affinity and thermodynamics are similar to thiodigalactoside and N-acetyllactosamine, indicating that Se substitution has minimal impact on the binding. Additionally, differences in solvent effects suggest rearrangement of solvent molecules at the binding site for SeDG and longer LacNAc dimers.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Optics
Guanghao Rui, Yulin Ji, Bing Gu, Yiping Cui, Qiwen Zhan
Summary: This work proposes a novel technique to detect the chirality of nanoscale samples by exploiting the photoinduced force exerted on an achiral tip. The technique allows for the independent retrieval of all the diagonal components of the sample's chirality by adjusting the orientation of the chiral dipole moment, and demonstrates high sensitivity for enantiospecifying chiral samples. It has potential applications in biomedicine, material science, and pharmaceutics.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Michel Chiarucci, Andrea Mazzanti, Paolo Righi, Giorgio Bencivenni, Michele Mancinelli
Summary: A series of 1,8-bis(1-naphthyl)-naphthalenes with different substituents have been synthesized to investigate noncovalent interactions between stacked arenes. DFT calculations, NMR, and ECD experiments were used to determine the best geometries and understand the role of dispersive and electrostatic contributions. The study revealed that electrostatic contributions greatly influence the interaction energy of the two naphthyl rings, while dispersive forces play a minor role in determining the parallel displaced geometry.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Victor K. Sousa, Jessica A. F. Pedro, Patricia S. Kumagai, Jose L. S. Lopes
Summary: Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy is an established biophysical technique used for investigating molecular structures. The choice of data collection parameters can significantly impact the analysis of protein CD spectra and subsequent quantitative analysis of protein secondary structure. Incorrect data collection parameters may lead to misinterpretation of protein structural content in CD data.
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anemar Bruno Kanj, Jochen Buerck, Nina Vankova, Chun Li, Dragos Mutruc, Abhinav Chandresh, Stefan Hecht, Thomas Heine, Lars Heinke
Summary: The study introduces a nanoporous solid material that induces chirality and enantioselective enrichment through circularly polarized light. Based on a crystalline metal-organic framework, the material utilizes photoswitchable fluorinated azobenzenes to induce chirality through trans-to-cis photoisomerization. Experimental results demonstrate that CPL causes chiral photoresolution, resulting in an optically active material.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marcia Carvalho de Abreu Fantini, Cristiano Luis Pinto Oliveira, Jose Luiz de Souza Lopes, Tereza da Silva Martins, Milena Apetito Akamatsu, Aryene Goes Trezena, Milene Tino-De-Franco, Viviane Fongaro Botosso, Osvaldo Augusto Brazil Esteves Sant'Anna, Nikolay Kardjilov, Martin Kjaerulf Rasmussen, Heloisa Nunes Bordallo
Summary: This article summarizes the progress made in oral vaccine formulations using porous silica matrices for antigen encapsulation. These vaccine vehicles effectively protect the antigens from stomach acid and enhance immunity. The research conducted at the Butantan Institute in Brazil is highlighted, with a focus on optimizing antigen encapsulation yield and distribution inside the silica matrix. Structural characterization and modeling were performed using various techniques, revealing the efficacy and stability of the proposed oral immunogenic complex.
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
C. L. P. Oliveira, J. L. S. Lopes, O. A. Sant'Anna, V. F. Botosso, H. N. Bordallo, M. C. A. Fantini
Summary: Ordered mesoporous silica is an efficient oral adjuvant for delivering a variety of antigens. It has shown promising results in inducing immune response for different antigens without toxicity. Physics methods have been used to characterize the material and determine the ideal antigen load and release rate for developing proper oral vaccines.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Jose L. S. Lopes, Caio C. F. Araujo, Rogerio C. Neves, Jochen Burck, Sheila G. Couto
Summary: This study investigated the physicochemical properties and mechanism of action of two small antimicrobial peptides, temporin-Ra and temporin-Rb, originally isolated from the skin of the European marsh frog. The peptides were found to adsorb at lipid surfaces, disrupt lipid packing, and undergo a disorder-to-helix transition in specific environments. The binding of the peptides to membrane models was influenced by negatively charged lipids. These findings are important for the development of peptide-based anti-infective drugs.
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biophysics
R. Daniel Peluffo, Silvia del V. Alonso, Rosangela Itri, F. Luis Gonzalez Flecha, Leandro R. S. Barbosa
Summary: This article describes a call for contributions to an upcoming Special Issue of Biophysical Reviews on the Latin American Federation of Biophysical Societies, including details on the reason for the SI, contact information for the SI Editors, and submission details.
BIOPHYSICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chun Li, Henrik Schopmans, Lukas Langer, Stefan Marschner, Abhinav Chandresh, Jochen Buerck, Youichi Tsuchiya, Adachi Chihaya, Wolfgang Wenzel, Stefan Braese, Mariana Kozlowska, Lars Heinke
Summary: Researchers have successfully prepared a crystalline film based on porphyrin with chiral properties and demonstrated excellent optoelectronic performance. By assembling in a metal-organic framework film, the porphyrin core becomes twisted and chiral. The close packing and crystalline order of the porphyrin cores in the film result in outstanding optoelectronic properties. Through exciting the Soret band of porphyrin, efficient photoconduction with a high On-Off ratio is achieved. Moreover, handedness-dependent circularly-polarized-light photoconduction is obtained. The combination of assembly-induced chirality with the rich porphyrin chemistry opens up possibilities for organic materials with exceptional chiral and optoelectronic properties.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erik Strandberg, Parvesh Wadhwani, Jochen Buerck, Patrick Anders, Christian Mink, Jonas van den Berg, Raffaele A. M. Ciriello, Manuel. N. N. Melo, Miguel A. R. B. Castanho, Eduard Bardaji, Jakob. P. P. Ulmschneider, Anne. S. S. Ulrich
Summary: BP100 is a cationic undecamer peptide with antimicrobial and cell-penetrating activities. The configuration of this peptide in lipid bilayers depends on temperature and lipid composition. At high temperatures, BP100 lies flat on the membrane surface, while at lower temperatures near the lipid phase transition, the helix structure inserts into the membrane. This inserted state is stable in thin bilayers at low peptide concentrations, but higher peptide concentrations are required in thicker membranes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gabriela Marinho Righetto, Jose Luiz de Souza Lopes, Paulo Jose Martins Bispo, Camille Andre, Julia Medeiros Souza, Adriano Defini Andricopulo, Leila Maria Beltramini, Ilana Lopes Baratella da Cunha Camargo
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health concern and there is a need for novel antimicrobial therapies. This study designed a new antimicrobial peptide Pln149-PEP20 and tested its activity against 60 different species of bacteria. The results showed that Pln149-PEP20 had excellent bactericidal activity and its target was likely genes associated with membrane metabolism.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alessia Pepe, Paolo Mariani, Juliana S. Yoneda, Federica Carducci, Rosangela Itri, Paolo Mariani
Summary: This study investigates the origin of the orientational properties of hydrogels composed of guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) and guanosine (Gua). The results demonstrate that the preferred orientation is controlled by the quadruplex surface charge and flexibility. The balance between attractive and repulsive interactions plays a main role in the orientational anisotropy.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Aryene Goes Trezena, Pedro Leonidas Oseliero Filho, Luis Carlos Cides da Silva, Cristiano Luis Pinto Oliveira, Jose Luiz de Souza Lopes, Nayara da Silva Antonio, Viktor Fonseca Barbosa Dettmann, Milena Apetito Akamatsu, Tereza da Silva Martins, Orlando Garcia Ribeiro, Marcia Carvalho de Abreu Fantini, Osvaldo Augusto Sant'Anna, Milene Tino-De-Franco
Summary: In this study, the efficiency of SBA-15 as an adjuvant in subcutaneous immunization was evaluated, and it was found that SBA-15 enhances the immunogenicity of diphtheria and tetanus antigens, especially when administered in combination. Additionally, SBA-15 modulates the antibody response of low antibody responder mice.
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
G. Costa dos Santos, M. Silva, L. Beltramini, N. Bossolan
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladimir Kubyshkin, Jochen Burck, Oleg Babii, Nediljko Budisa, Anne S. Ulrich
Summary: Circular dichroism is a conventional method for studying the secondary structures of peptides and proteins. The polyproline-II helix, while not exhibiting strictly conserved spectroscopic appearance, is significantly influenced by the surrounding solvent environment. Changes in solvation can lead to shifts and variations in the circular dichroism spectra, with new features potentially emerging in nonpolar environments. Additionally, the transition to a transmembrane state in isotropic liposomes is correlated with specific spectral changes, indicating the importance of considering the solvent environment in assessing circular dichroism spectra.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)