Investigation of cationicity and structure of pseudin-2 analogues for enhanced bacterial selectivity and anti-inflammatory activity

Sci Rep. 2017 May 3;7(1):1455. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01474-0.

Abstract

Pseudin-2 (Ps), isolated from the frog Pseudis paradoxa, exhibits potent antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity. To develop antimicrobial peptides with anti-inflammatory activity and low cytotoxicity, we designed Ps analogues with Lys substitutions, resulting in elevated amphipathic α-helical structure and cationicity. We further substituted Gly11 with Pro (Ps-P analogues) to increase bacterial cell selectivity. Ps analogues retained antimicrobial activity and exhibited reduced cytotoxicity, whereas Ps-P analogues exhibited lower cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity. Tertiary structures revealed that Ps has a linear α-helix from Leu2 to Glu24, whereas Ps-P has a bend at Pro11 between two short α-helixes. Using various biophysical experiments, we found that Ps analogues produced much higher membrane depolarization than Ps-P analogues, whereas Ps-P analogues may penetrate bacterial cell membranes. Ps and its analogue Ps-K18 exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 and mouse dendritic cells via a mechanism involving the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway. These activities may arise from their direct inhibition of the formation of TLR4-MD-2_LPS complex, implying that amphipathic α-helical structure with an optimum balance between enhanced cationicity and hydrophobicity may be essential for their anti-inflammatory activity. The bent structure provided by Pro substitution plays an important role in enhancing bacterial cell selectivity and cell penetration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Amphibian Proteins / chemical synthesis
  • Amphibian Proteins / chemistry*
  • Amphibian Proteins / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology
  • Anura
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96 / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96 / immunology
  • Lysine / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Proline / chemistry*
  • Protein Engineering
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / immunology

Substances

  • Amphibian Proteins
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Ly96 protein, mouse
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • pseudin-2 protein, Pseudis paradoxa
  • Proline
  • Lysine