Review
Infectious Diseases
Andreas Hadjicharalambous, Nikolaos Bournakas, Hector Newman, Michael J. J. Skynner, Paul Beswick
Summary: This review examines the mechanisms of antimicrobial peptides in translocating across bacterial membranes and proposes strategies for combating antimicrobial resistance. By understanding the interactions between peptides and biological membranes, new peptide vectors may be developed for delivering antibiotics.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haodong Zhang, Qi Chen, Jiayang Xie, Zihao Cong, Chuntao Cao, Wenjing Zhang, Donghui Zhang, Sheng Chen, Jiawei Gu, Shuai Deng, Zhongqian Qiao, Xinyue Zhang, Maoquan Li, Ziyi Lu, Runhui Liu
Summary: Poly-beta-lysine with beta-homo-glycine substitution (beta Lys50HG50) shows potent antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and MRSA persister cells, with low cytotoxicity and no antimicrobial resistance. It has strong therapeutic potential in both local and systemic MRSA infections, suggesting a generalizable strategy for designing promising antibacterial polypeptides.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Piyush Agrawal, Dhruv Bhagat, Manish Mahalwal, Neelam Sharma, Gajendra P. S. Raghava
Summary: The study developed a computational model for predicting and designing anticancer peptides (ACPs), revealing residue composition preference, positional preference, and motif features of ACPs. Machine learning models were utilized and trained on different datasets, with the best models implemented on the webserver AntiCP 2.0 for free access.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Andreea Gostaviceanu, Simona Gavrilas, Lucian Copolovici, Dana Maria Copolovici
Summary: Membrane-active peptides (MAPs) have unique properties that make them valuable tools for studying membrane structure and function and promising candidates for therapeutic applications. They can selectively interact with multiple membranes and disrupt lipid bilayers through different pathways. MAPs have shown antimicrobial activity, selective targeting of cancer cells, and drug delivery capabilities, making them a fascinating class of biomolecules with significant potential in basic research and clinical applications.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Anju Yadav, Payam Kelich, Nathaniel Kallmyer, Nigel F. Reuel, Lela Vukovic
Summary: In this study, we used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interactions between lipid-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and three cell membrane disruptor peptides. We found that the SWNTs preferred an asymmetrical positioning within the lipid corona and exhibited different behaviors when interacting with different peptides. Additionally, we observed correlations between the peptide-induced structural perturbations and the near-infrared emission of the lipid-functionalized SWNTs. Our findings suggest that lipid-functionalized SWNTs could serve as simplified cell membrane model systems for pre-screening new antimicrobial compounds.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Oktawian Stachurski, Damian Neubauer, Aleksandra Walewska, Emilia Ilowska, Marta Bauer, Sylwia Bartoszewska, Karol Sikora, Aleksandra Hac, Dariusz Wyrzykowski, Adam Prahl, Wojciech Kamysz, Emilia Sikorska
Summary: This study investigates short cationic antimicrobial lipopeptides with a high propensity to fibrillate, which exhibit high activity and stability on bacterial membranes, and low cytotoxicity against human cells. The findings suggest that monomers are the main active form and the target of action of the lipopeptides is the bacterial membrane.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Corina Ciobanasu
Summary: Membrane active peptides have potential in targeted drug delivery systems, and understanding their uptake mechanism is crucial for peptide therapeutics development and clinical use. By studying the dynamics and kinetics of peptides on model membranes, relevant information on peptide uptake steps can be obtained.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tomislav Roncevic, Matko Males, Yogesh Sonavane, Filomena Guida, Sabrina Pacor, Alessandro Tossi, Larisa Zoranic
Summary: Kiadins are peptides that resemble diPGLa-H and have varying activity and selectivity against bacteria, as well as cytotoxicity against host cells, depending on the number and placement of glycine residues. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the conformational flexibility introduced by glycine substitutions affects peptide structure and interactions with model membranes.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Hui Shao, Jin Zhou, Xiaoqian Lin, Yue Zhou, Yumeng Xue, Weili Hong, Xubo Lin, Xiaoling Jia, Yubo Fan
Summary: Developing new antimicrobial agents to combat drug-resistant pathogens and biofilms is an urgent task. Cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have potential due to their unique membrane rupture mechanism, but their high toxicity and low stability limit their application. In this study, a biomimetic strategy was used to construct cationic peptide-conjugated liposomes, inspired by cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), to enhance antibacterial efficacy and biosafety. Computational simulation and experimental investigations identified the optimal peptide-conjugated liposomes, which showed enhanced antibacterial efficacy without compromising cytotoxicity. This bio-inspired design could contribute to the development of next-generation antimicrobials.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aaron P. Decker, Abraham F. Mechesso, Guangshun Wang
Summary: Unlike the alpha-helical and beta-sheet antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), amino acid-rich AMPs have limited knowledge. This article conducted a systematic study on rich AMPs (>25%) from different life kingdoms using the Antimicrobial Peptide Database (APD) and program R. Of the 3425 peptides analyzed, 724 rich AMPs were identified. The distribution of rich AMPs differs among animals, bacteria, and plants. Certain amino acids are frequently observed in rich AMPs, while others are occasionally observed or not yet found. These findings can guide peptide design and rich AMPs show promise as future antibiotics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maria Gallo, Sira Defaus, David Andreu
Summary: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are usually described as monomeric transmembrane receptors, but increasing evidence shows that many GPCRs actually form higher-order assemblies. The formation, structure, physiological roles, and potential therapeutic applications of these assemblies are actively being explored. This review provides a comprehensive overview of GPCR complexes, with a focus on disrupting GPCRs using peptides mimicking transmembrane domains involved in multimerization. Recent strategies for developing drug-like versions of these transmembrane peptide candidates for therapeutic applications are also highlighted.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Natthaporn Klubthawee, Giovanni Bovone, Bruno Marco-Dufort, Elia A. Guzzi, Ratchaneewan Aunpad, Mark W. Tibbitt
Summary: This study presents a moldable and biodegradable colloidal nano-network that protects and delivers antimicrobial peptides to address antimicrobial resistance. The nano-network successfully protects the peptides from enzymatic degradation and demonstrates effective killing of bacteria in vitro and ex vivo models.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabela P. Gomes, Talita L. Santos, Amanda N. de Souza, Lucio O. Nunes, Gabriele A. Cardoso, Carolina O. Matos, Livia M. F. Costa, Luciano M. Liao, Jarbas M. Resende, Rodrigo M. Verly
Summary: This study explores the membrane interactions of the antimicrobial peptide HSP1-NH2 derived from tree-frog, revealing the peptide's well-defined helical conformations in both zwitterionic and anionic micelles. It also shows a higher enthalpic contribution of the peptide with anionic vesicles compared to zwitterionic vesicles, and the peptide's disruptive effect on membranes increases proportionately to its concentration.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Shian Lai, Quan Zhang, Lin Jin
Summary: Due to the abuse of antibiotics, an increasing number of drug-resistant bacterial strains have emerged, posing a serious threat to human and animal health. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have proven to be one of the most effective solutions, as they exhibit low propensity for drug resistance and possess remarkable antimicrobial effects. Among them, cyclic AMPs, especially macrocyclic ones, have garnered extensive attention.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Harry Morales Duque, Gisele Rodrigues, Lucas Souza Santos, Octavio Luiz Franco
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) have gained attention for their ability to kill bacteria, but further research is needed. Most AMPs have diverse structures and action mechanisms when targeting microorganisms or eukaryotic cells. Bioinformatic tools are necessary to study charge distribution and predict biological effects in AMPs.
EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DISCOVERY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yusuke Kato
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yusuke Kato
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Takeo Mammoto, Keiko Fujie, Naotaka Mamizuka, Noriko Taguchi, Atsushi Hirano, Masashi Yamazaki, Satoshi Ueno, Enbo Ma, Koichi Hashimoto
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yusuke Kato
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Microbiology
Melody Tsai, Ryosuke L. Ohniwa, Yusuke Kato, Sayaka L. Takeshita, Toshiko Ohta, Shinji Saito, Hideo Hayashi, Kazuya Morikawa
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Masahiro Kurobe, Takahiro Kojima, Kouichi Nishimura, Shuya Kandori, Takashi Kawahara, Takayuki Yoshino, Satoshi Ueno, Yuichi Iizumi, Koji Mitsuzuka, Yoichi Arai, Hiroshi Tsuruta, Tomonori Habuchi, Takashi Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Matsui, Osamu Ogawa, Mikio Sugimoto, Yoshiyuki Kakehi, Yoshiyuki Nagumo, Masakazu Tsutsumi, Takehiro Oikawa, Koji Kikuchi, Hiroyuki Nishiyama
Article
Microbiology
Satoshi Ueno, Masaomi Minaba, Yuji Nishiuchi, Misako Taichi, Yasushi Tamada, Toshimasa Yamazaki, Yusuke Kato
ANNALS OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND ANTIMICROBIALS
(2011)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Satoshi Tomisawa, Eri Hojo, Yoshitaka Umetsu, Shinya Ohki, Yusuke Kato, Mitsuhiro Miyazawa, Mineyuki Mizuguchi, Masakatsu Kamiya, Yasuhiro Kumaki, Takashi Kikukawa, Keiichi Kawano, Makoto Demura, Tomoyasu Aizawa
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yusuke Kato
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2019)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yusuke Kato
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Biology
Yusuke Kato
Summary: The study introduced a novel growth controller regulated by an unnatural amino acid, which inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli without causing rapid bacterial death. This system demonstrated target specificity, environmental noise resistance, and titratability. By optimizing the anticodon sequence of tRNA(pyl), the most effective growth control was achieved.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yusuke Kato
Summary: A protocol was developed for plasmid curing and exchange using a novel counter-selectable marker pylS(ZK)-pylT in Escherichia coli, which proved to be effective in both processes. The study demonstrated successful plasmid curing and exchange, highlighting the potential scalability and versatility of counter-selectable markers based on PylRS-tRNA(pyl).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biology
Yusuke Kato, Chunbo Lou