Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
S. Pankivskyi, D. Pastre, E. Steiner, V Joshi, A. Rynditch, L. Hamon
Summary: SAM68 is an mRNA-binding protein involved in mRNA processing in the nucleus, and its interaction with ITSN1 can enhance its solubility, regulating the processing of a fraction of nuclear mRNAs. ITSN1 and mRNA may act together to promote SAM68 solubilization, which is important for SAM68-controlled splicing events related to higher neuronal functions or cancer progression.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sathish Kumar Marimuthu, Krishnanand Nagarajan, Sathish Kumar Perumal, Selvamani Palanisamy, Latha Subbiah
Summary: Host defense peptides or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short sequences of amino acids with positive or negative charges that exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity. AMPs rich in tryptophan, arginine, and proline are considered promising sources for the development of next-generation antibiotics. This study analyzed and classified 2924 AMPs based on their amino acid sequences and investigated their structures and stability using modeling and simulations.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Huy Xuan Luong, Hai Thi Phuong Bui, Truong Thanh Tung
Summary: MAPs are a category of peptides with antimicrobial, anticancer, and cell penetration activities, but natural MAPs have encountered various disadvantages. The application of an all-hydrocarbon stapling system has been proven to effectively stabilize helical conformations of MAPs, improving proteolytic resistance and increasing potency.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Motoharu Hirano, Hidetomo Yokoo, Chihiro Goto, Makoto Oba, Takashi Misawa, Yosuke Demizu
Summary: We have developed cell-penetrating stapled peptides based on the amphipathic antimicrobial peptide magainin 2 for efficient intracellular delivery of nucleic acids including pDNA, mRNA, and siRNA. The peptide st7-5_R can form stable complexes with these nucleic acids and efficiently deliver them into cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Motoharu Hirano, Hidetomo Yokoo, Chihiro Goto, Makoto Oba, Takashi Misawa, Yosuke Demizu
Summary: We have developed cell-penetrating stapled peptides based on the amphipathic antimicrobial peptide magainin 2 for efficient intracellular delivery of nucleic acids such as pDNA, mRNA, and siRNA. The stapled peptide st7-5 and its variant st7-5_R can form stable complexes with nucleic acids and successfully deliver them into cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Brigitte A. G. Lamers, Andreas Herdlitschka, Tobias Schnitzer, Mathijs F. J. Mabesoone, Sandra M. C. Schoenmakers, Bas F. M. de Waal, Anja R. A. Palmans, Helma Wennemers, E. W. Meijer
Summary: Discrete block co-oligomers can form highly ordered nanostructures with various morphologies depending on their environment. This study focuses on oligodimethylsiloxane-oligoproline BCOs and their aggregation behavior in different solvents, providing insights into the interplay between the proline and siloxane blocks. The complex pathway selection in the aggregation and phase segregation of these BCOs leads to unique material properties, such as gel formation in certain cases.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuddhanjali Roy, Tanushree Agarwal, Arup Das, Tanmoy Halder, Gouranga Upadhyaya, Binay Chaubey, Sudipta Ray
Summary: The C-terminal stretch in SbGPRP1 acts as an antimicrobial peptide by either binding to the bacterial membrane or targeting a specific protein on the membrane, causing membrane perturbation. The study shows the potential antimicrobial property of the C-terminal peptide against gram-positive bacteria and phytopathogen, and identifies a crucial 23 amino acid sequence for its antimicrobial activity. Further experiments demonstrate the interaction between C-SbGPRP1 and bacterial membrane protein, leading to membrane perturbation and antimicrobial activity.
PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cheng-Yu Tsai, Emmanuel Oluwatobi Salawu, Hongchun Li, Guan-Yu Lin, Ting-Yu Kuo, Liyin Voon, Adarsh Sharma, Kai-Di Hu, Yi-Yun Cheng, Sobha Sahoo, Lutimba Stuart, Chih-Wei Chen, Yuan-Yu Chang, Yu-Lin Lu, Simai Ke, Christopher Llynard D. Ortiz, Bai-Shan Fang, Chen-Chi Wu, Chung-Yu Lan, Hua-Wen Fu, Lee-Wei Yang
Summary: The systematic design of functional peptides has various applications and a pattern-based search engine is needed to locate desired functional motifs in primary sequences. In this study, we extracted 1.7 million helices from the PDB and compiled them into a database called TP-DB, which facilitates the identification of sequence motifs of helical structures. We demonstrated the application of TP-DB in identifying specific antibodies, designing antimicrobial peptides, and suggesting point mutations in helical peptide blockers.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
I. A. Bolosov, P. V. Panteleev, S. V. Balandin, O. V. Shamova, T. V. Ovchinnikova
Summary: We conducted structural and functional studies on minibactenecin mini-ChBac7.5N alpha, a natural proline-rich cathelicidin from domestic goat Capra hircus. By generating a series of alanine-substituted analogues, we identified the key residues essential for the peptide's biological activity. We observed rapid development of E. coli resistance to both the natural minibactenecin and its analogues carrying substitutions for hydrophobic amino acids in the C-terminal residues. The resistance to this class of peptides is likely due to mutations in the SbmA transporter leading to its inactivation.
BULLETIN OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Huizhen Ma, Yong Feng, Qianqian Cao, Jing Jia, Muhammad Ali, Dilip Shah, Blake C. Meyers, Hai He, Yu Zhang
Summary: We analyzed the evolutionary pattern of cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) and found that CRPs are widely distributed in plants. The copy number of CRP genes varied significantly across lineages and was associated with the plant ecotype, possibly due to their resistance to changing pathogenic environments. We also investigated the unique bi-domain CRPs and provided insights into their antimicrobial and symbiosis characteristics.
PLANT CELL REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rachel E. Detwiler, Austin E. Schlirf, Jessica R. Kramer
Summary: Researchers have developed facile and high-yielding methods for preparing Pro and trans-4-acetoxy-Pro N-carboxyanhdrides (NCAs), and discovered a new initiator catalytic mechanism, opening up new avenues for synthesizing end-functional PP-based polypeptides with specific properties.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Tess E. Brewer, Andreas Wagner
Summary: Fast-growing bacteria encode fewer di-prolyl motifs compared to slow-growing ones, especially in highly expressed proteins. Many di-prolyl motifs are found in thermophiles and bacteria with complex, multicellular lifecycles.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Marko Babic, Patrizia Jankovic, Silvia Marchesan, Goran Mausa, Daniela Kalafatovic
Summary: Ester hydrolysis is of biomedical interest, but existing peptide-based catalysts have low efficiency. In order to address this issue, statistical analysis was conducted on 22 hydrolases to identify patterns in the sequence for better catalyst design.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL INFORMATION AND MODELING
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joanna Watly, Adriana Miller, Henryk Kozlowski, Magdalena Rowinska-Zyrek
Summary: The involvement of metal ions in interacting with therapeutic peptides can fine-tune the biological properties of antimicrobial peptides. The use of proteolytically stable peptidomimetics, such as D-, beta-, gamma-amino acids, unnatural amino acids, azapeptides, peptoids, cyclopeptides, and dehydropeptides, provides an infinite reservoir of metal binding motifs for metabolically stable, well-designed, biologically active molecules. This approach offers potential solutions to the problematic metabolic stability of therapeutic peptides.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Claudia Herrera-Leon, Francisco Ramos-Martin, Hassan El Btaouri, Viviane Antonietti, Pascal Sonnet, Laurent Martiny, Fabrizia Zevolini, Chiara Falciani, Catherine Sarazin, Nicola D'Amelio
Summary: This study demonstrates that specific arrangements of amino acids in anticancer peptides significantly impact their activity, with changes in amino acid order or substitutions in key motifs affecting the efficacy against cancer cell lines. The study also reveals that the insertion capability in cancer-mimicking membranes is crucial for the activity of the peptides, with specific amino acids playing a role in anchoring and insertion into these membranes.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Federica Iavarone, Claudia Desiderio, Alberto Vitali, Irene Messana, Claudia Martelli, Massimo Castagnola, Tiziana Cabras
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Biology
F. Bugli, M. Cacaci, V. Palmieri, R. Di Santo, R. Torelli, G. Ciasca, M. Di Vito, A. Vitali, C. Conti, M. Sanguinetti, M. De Spirito, M. Papi
Article
Infectious Diseases
Tecla Ciociola, Laura Giovati, Angela Giovannelli, Stefania Conti, Massimo Castagnola, Alberto Vitali
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2018)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Adriana Amalfitano, Cecilia Martini, Giuseppina Nocca, Massimiliano Papi, Marco De Spirito, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Alberto Vitali, Francesca Bugli, Alessandro Arcovito
BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS
(2019)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Veronica Nobile, Federica Palumbo, Stella Lanni, Valentina Ghisio, Alberto Vitali, Massimo Castagnola, Valeria Marzano, Giuseppe Maulucci, Claudio De Angelis, Marco De Spirito, Laura Pacini, Laura D'Andrea, Rino Ragno, Giulia Stazi, Sergio Valente, Antonello Mai, Pietro Chiurazzi, Maurizio Genuardi, Giovanni Neri, Elisabetta Tabolacci
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cecilia Velino, Francesca Carella, Alessio Adamiano, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Alberto Vitali, Daniele Catalucci, Francesca Bugli, Michele Iafisco
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Maura Di Vito, Maria Grazia Bellardi, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Francesca Mondello, Antonietta Girolamo, Lorenzo Barbanti, Stefania Garzoli, Manuela Sabatino, Rino Ragno, Alberto Vitali, Ivana Palucci, Brunella Posteraro, Antonio Gasbarrini, Gian Maria Prati, Giovanni Aragona, Paola Mattarelli, Francesca Bugli
Article
Infectious Diseases
Maura Di Vito, Margherita Gentile, Paola Mattarelli, Lorenzo Barbanti, Laura Micheli, Claudia Mazzuca, Stefania Garzoli, Mattia Titubante, Alberto Vitali, Margherita Cacaci, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Francesca Bugli
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alberto Vitali, Annarita Stringaro, Marisa Colone, Alexandra Muntiu, Letizia Angiolella
Summary: Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with carvacrol showed strong antifungal activity against planktonic Candida strains, and the antibiofilm activity varied depending on the species tested.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michele Iafisco, Francesca Carella, Lorenzo Degli Esposti, Alessio Adamiano, Daniele Catalucci, Jessica Modica, Alessandra Bragonzi, Alberto Vitali, Riccardo Torelli, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Francesca Bugli
Summary: The use of inhalable calcium phosphate nanoparticles functionalized with colistin shows promising potential for improving the efficacy of cystic fibrosis treatment by enhancing drug delivery to bacteria in the airways.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Annarita Stringaro, Stefano Serra, Alessandro Gori, Annarica Calcabrini, Marisa Colone, Maria Luisa Dupuis, Francesca Spadaro, Serena Cecchetti, Alberto Vitali
Summary: This study analyzed the cell specificity, cell viability effects, intracellular distribution, and immune cell response of a new peptide conjugate of Aloe-emodin in SKBR3 and A549 cell lines. The results showed that the conjugate was more effective at reducing cell viability than AE in both cell lines, with a nuclear localization in SKBR3 cells and cytoplasmic distribution in A459 cells.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Tecla Ciociola, Laura Giovati, Tiziano De Simone, Greta Bergamaschi, Alessandro Gori, Valerio Consalvi, Stefania Conti, Alberto Vitali
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance, including fungal resistance, is a global public health concern. This study aimed to search for potential alternatives to conventional drugs, focusing on proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs) from plants. Two candidates showed potent activity against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata strains, including resistant isolates, with unique mechanistic properties.
Proceedings Paper
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Marisa Colone, Letizia Angiolella, Alberto Vitali, Stefano Serra, Alessandro Gori, Annarica Calcabrini, Annarita Stringaro
NANOINNOVATION 2017
(2018)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Valentina Palmieri, Francesca Bugli, Margherita Cacaci, Riccardo Di Santo, Alberto Vitali, Riccardo Torelli, Maura Di Vito, Claudio Conti, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Marco De Spirito, Massimiliano Papi
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2018)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cristina Catto, Giovanni Grazioso, Silvia Dell'Orto, Arianna Gelain, Stefania Villa, Valeria Marzano, Alberto Vitali, Federica Villa, Francesca Cappitelli, Fabio Forlani