scholarly journals Shortened derivatives from native antimicrobial peptide LyeTx I: In vitro and in vivo biological activity assessment

2020 ◽  
pp. 153537022096696
Author(s):  
Leonardo Lima Fuscaldi ◽  
Joaquim Teixeira de Avelar Júnior ◽  
Daniel Moreira dos Santos ◽  
Daiane Boff ◽  
Vívian Louise Soares de Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Alpha Helix ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Control Group

In the continuing search for novel antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides are promising molecules, due to different mechanisms of action compared to classic antibiotics and to their selectivity for interaction with microorganism cells rather than with mammalian cells. Previously, our research group has isolated the antimicrobial peptide LyeTx I from the venom of the spider Lycosa erythrognatha. Here, we proposed to synthesize three novel shortened derivatives from LyeTx I (LyeTx I mn; LyeTx I mnΔK; LyeTx I mnΔKAc) and to evaluate their toxicity and biological activity as potential antimicrobial agents. Peptides were synthetized by Fmoc strategy and circular dichroism analysis was performed, showing that the three novel shortened derivatives may present membranolytic activity, like the original LyeTx I, once they folded as an alpha helix in 2.2.2-trifluorethanol and sodium dodecyl sulfate. In vitro assays revealed that the shortened derivative LyeTx I mnΔK presents the best score between antimicrobial (↓ MIC) and hemolytic (↑ EC50) activities among the synthetized shortened derivatives, and LUHMES cell-based NeuriTox test showed that it is less neurotoxic than the original LyeTx I (EC50 [LyeTx I mnΔK] ⋙ EC50 [LyeTx I]). In vivo data, obtained in a mouse model of septic arthritis induced by Staphylococcus aureus, showed that LyeTx I mnΔK is able to reduce infection, as demonstrated by bacterial recovery assay (∼10-fold reduction) and scintigraphic imaging (less technetium-99m labeled-Ceftizoxime uptake by infectious site). Infection reduction led to inflammatory process and pain decreases, as shown by immune cells recruitment reduction and threshold nociception increment, when compared to positive control group. Therefore, among the three shortened peptide derivatives, LyeTx I mnΔK is the best candidate as antimicrobial agent, due to its smaller amino acid sequence and toxicity, and its greater biological activity.

Discovery of 3-Cinnamamido-N-Substituted Benzamides as Potential Antimalarial Agents

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haicheng Liu ◽  
Yushi Futamura ◽  
Honghai Wu ◽  
Aki Ishiyama ◽  
Taotao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Antimalarial Activity ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Compound Library ◽  
Antimalarial Agents ◽  
Phenotypic Screen ◽  
Ic50 Values ◽  
Substituted Benzamides

Background: Malaria is one of the most devastating parasitic diseases, yet the discovery of antimalarial agents remains profoundly challenging. Very few new antimalarials have been developed in the past 50 years, while the emergence of drug-resistance continues to appear. Objective: This study focuses on the discovery, design, synthesis, and antimalarial evaluation of 3-cinnamamido-N-substituted benzamides. Method: In this study, a screening of our compound library was carried out against the multidrug-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain. Derivatives of the hit were designed, synthesized and tested against P. falciparum 3D7 and the in vivo antimalarial activity of the most active compounds was evaluated using the method of Peters’ 4-day suppressive test. Results: The retrieved hit compound 1 containing a 3-cinnamamido-N-substituted benzamide skeleton showed moderate antimalarial activity (IC50 = 1.20 µM) for the first time. A series of derivatives were then synthesized through a simple four-step workflow, and half of them exhibited slightly better antimalarial effect than the precursor 1 during the subsequent in vitro assays. Additionally, compounds 11, 23, 30 and 31 displayed potent activity with IC50 values of approximately 0.1 µM, and weak cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. However, in vivo antimalarial activity is not effective which might be ascribed to the poor solubility of these compounds. Conclusion: In this study, phenotypic screen of our compound library resulted in the first report of 3-cinnamamide framework with antimalarial activity and 40 derivatives were then designed and synthesized. Subsequent structure-activity studies showed that compounds 11, 23, 30 and 31 exhibited the most potent and selective activity against P. falciparum 3D7 strain with IC50 values around 0.1 µM. Our work herein sets another example of phenotypic screen-based drug discovery, leading to potentially promising candidates of novel antimalarial agents once given further optimization.

Phospholipase D1b and D2a generate structurally identical phosphatidic acid species in mammalian cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 360 (3) ◽  
pp. 707-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor R. PETTITT ◽  
Mark McDERMOTT ◽  
Khalid M. SAQIB ◽  
Neil SHIMWELL ◽  
Michael J. O. WAKELAM
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Phosphatidic Acid ◽  
Phospholipase D ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Inducible Promoter ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Intracellular Messenger

Mammalian cells contain different phospholipase D enzymes (PLDs) whose distinct physiological roles are poorly understood and whose products have not been characterized. The development of porcine aortic endothelial (PAE) cell lines able to overexpress PLD-1b or −2a under the control of an inducible promoter has enabled us to characterize both the substrate specificity and the phosphatidic acid (PtdOH) product of these enzymes under controlled conditions. Liquid chromatography–MS analysis showed that PLD1b- and PLD2a-transfected PAE cells, as well as COS7 and Rat1 cells, generate similar PtdOH and, in the presence of butan-1-ol, phosphatidylbutanol (PtdBut) profiles, enriched in mono- and di-unsaturated species, in particular 16:0/18:1. Although PtdBut mass increased, the species profile did not change in cells stimulated with ATP or PMA. Overexpression of PLD made little difference to basal or stimulated PtdBut formation, indicating that activity is tightly regulated in vivo and that factors other than just PLD protein levels limit hydrolytic function. In vitro assays using PLD-enriched lysates showed that the enzyme could utilize both phosphatidylcholine and, much less efficiently, phosphatidylethanolamine, with slight selectivity towards mono- and di-unsaturated species. Phosphatidylinositol was not a substrate. Thus PLD1b and PLD2a hydrolyse a structurally similar substrate pool to generate an identical PtdOH product enriched in mono- and di-unsaturated species that we propose to function as the intracellular messenger forms of this lipid.

scholarly journals Identification of overlapping DNA-binding and centromere-targeting domains in the human kinetochore protein CENP-C.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 3576-3586 ◽  
Author(s):  
C H Yang ◽  
J Tomkiel ◽  
H Saitoh ◽  
D H Johnson ◽  
W C Earnshaw
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Centromeric Heterochromatin ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Chromosomal Site

The kinetochore in eukaryotes serves as the chromosomal site of attachment for microtubules of the mitotic spindle and directs the movements necessary for proper chromosome segregation. In mammalian cells, the kinetochore is a highly differentiated trilaminar structure situated at the surface of the centromeric heterochromatin. CENP-C is a basic, DNA-binding protein that localizes to the inner kinetochore plate, the region that abuts the heterochromatin. Microinjection experiments using antibodies specific for CENP-C have demonstrated that this protein is required for the assembly and/or stability of the kinetochore as well as for a timely transition through mitosis. From these observations, it has been suggested that CENP-C is a structural protein that is involved in the organization or the kinetochore. In this report, we wished to identify and map the functional domains of CENP-C. Analysis of CENP-C truncation mutants expressed in vivo demonstrated that CENP-C possesses an autonomous centromere-targeting domain situated at the central region of the CENP-C polypeptide. Similarly, in vitro assays revealed that a region of CENP-C with the ability to bind DNA is also located at the center of the CENP-C molecule, where it overlaps the centromere-targeting domain.

Regulatory Perspective on in Vitro Assays as Predictors of Phototoxicity and Photo Co-Carcinogenicity

1998 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 571-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Hairless Mouse ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Drug Products ◽  
Drug Classes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Regulatory Perspective

Drugs from a variety of chemical classes used for a wide range of therapeutic indications can be photosensitizers in humans. Several drugs are phototoxic in animal models as well; there are no nonclinical data for many. In vitro tests have been developed as predictors of phototoxicity and although they have been used as screens, none have replaced the in vivo tests done in rodents (usually mice or guinea pigs) since these have been good predictors of clinical phototoxicity. Some phototoxic drug classes are co-carcinogens with ultraviolet radiation (UVA and/or UVB) in hairless mice, specifically psoralens, retinoids, and fluo-roquinolones. Treatment with 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet A radiation for psoriasis is also carcinogenic in humans. It has been suggested that in vitro photogenotoxicity assays using microorganisms or mammalian cells may be predictive of photo co-carcinogenicity. Some attractions of these in vitro assays, compared to the hairless mouse photo co-carcinogenicity assay, are their generally shorter duration and lower cost as well as reducing the number of animals used in research. Currently, personnel at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are examining the available data on phototoxicity, photogenotoxicity, and photo co-carcinogenicity to determine how this information can best be used toregulate and label drug products, and considering which assays should be recommended under specific circumstances.

Ki-4(scFv)–ETA′, a new recombinant anti-CD30 immunotoxin with highly specific cytotoxic activity against disseminated Hodgkin tumors in SCID mice

Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 3909-3914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Barth ◽  
Michael Huhn ◽  
Bärbel Matthey ◽  
Samir Tawadros ◽  
Roland Schnell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Lymphoma Cell ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Saline Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Immunodeficient Mice ◽  
Recombinant Immunotoxin

The human lymphocyte activation marker CD30 is highly overexpressed on Hodgkin/Reed–Sternberg cells and represents an ideal target for selective immunotherapy. We used the murine anti-CD30 hybridoma Ki-4 to construct a new recombinant immunotoxin (rIT) for possible clinical use in patients with CD30+ lymphoma. Hybridoma V genes were polymerase chain reaction-amplified, assembled, cloned, and expressed as a mini-library for display on filamentous phage. Functional Ki-4 scFv obtained by selection of binding phage on the CD30-expressing Hodgkin lymphoma cell line L540cy was inserted into the bacterial expression vector pBM1.1 and fused to a deletion mutant ofPseudomonas exotoxin A (ETA′). Periplasmically expressed Ki-4(scFv)–ETA′ demonstrated specific activity against a variety of CD30+ lymphoma cells as assessed by different in vitro assays. To evaluate in vivo antitumor activity, severe combined immunodeficient mice challenged with human lymphoma cell lines were treated with the immunotoxin. The blood distribution time t½ of Ki-4(scFv)–ETA′ was 19 minutes, and its serum elimination time t½ was 193 minutes. A single intravenous injection of 40 μg rIT 1 day after tumor inoculation rendered 90% of the mice tumor free, extending the mean survival time to more than 200 days compared with 38.1 days in the phosphate-buffered saline control group (P < .001). This new rIT is a promising candidate for further clinical evaluation in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma or other CD30+malignancies.

scholarly journals Redesigning Arenicin-1, an Antimicrobial Peptide from the Marine Polychaeta Arenicola marina, by Strand Rearrangement or Branching, Substitution of Specific Residues, and Backbone Linearization or Cyclization

Marine Drugs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitriy S. Orlov ◽  
Olga V. Shamova ◽  
Igor E. Eliseev ◽  
Maria S. Zharkova ◽  
Oleg B. Chakchir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Arenicola Marina ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Arenicin-1, a β-sheet antimicrobial peptide isolated from the marine polychaeta Arenicola marina coelomocytes, has a potent, broad-spectrum microbicidal activity and also shows significant toxicity towards mammalian cells. Several variants were rationally designed to elucidate the role of structural features such as cyclization, a certain symmetry of the residue arrangement, or the presence of specific residues in the sequence, in its membranolytic activity and the consequent effect on microbicidal efficacy and toxicity. The effect of variations on the structure was probed using molecular dynamics simulations, which indicated a significant stability of the β-hairpin scaffold and showed that modifying residue symmetry and β-strand arrangement affected both the twist and the kink present in the native structure. In vitro assays against a panel of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including drug-resistant clinical isolates, showed that inversion of the residue arrangement improved the activity against Gram-negative strains but decreased it towards Gram-positive ones. Variants with increased symmetry were somewhat less active, whereas both backbone-cyclized and linear versions of the peptides, as well as variants with R→K and W→F replacement, showed antimicrobial activity comparable with that of the native peptide. All these variants permeabilized both the outer and the inner membranes of Escherichia coli, suggesting that a membranolytic mechanism of action was maintained. Our results indicate that the arenicin scaffold can support a considerable degree of variation while maintaining useful biological properties and can thus serve as a template for the elaboration of novel anti-infective agents.

scholarly journals In vitro circadian rhythms: imaging and electrophysiology

2011 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 103-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Beaulé ◽  
Daniel Granados-Fuentes ◽  
Luciano Marpegan ◽  
Erik D Herzog
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Cell Synchronization ◽  
Circadian Oscillators ◽  
Circadian Pacemakers

In vitro assays have localized circadian pacemakers to individual cells, revealed genetic determinants of rhythm generation, identified molecular players in cell–cell synchronization and determined physiological events regulated by circadian clocks. Although they allow strict control of experimental conditions and reduce the number of variables compared with in vivo studies, they also lack many of the conditions in which cellular circadian oscillators normally function. The present review highlights methods to study circadian timing in cultured mammalian cells and how they have shaped the hypothesis that all cells are capable of circadian rhythmicity.

scholarly journals Leucine 232 and hydrophobic residues at the ribosomal P stalk binding site are critical for biological activity of ricin

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yijun Zhou ◽  
Xiao-Ping Li ◽  
Jennifer N. Kahn ◽  
John E. McLaughlin ◽  
Nilgun E. Tumer
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Active Site Residues ◽  
Hydrophobic Pocket ◽  
Hydrophobic Residues ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Ribosomal P

Abstract Ricin interacts with the ribosomal P stalk to cleave a conserved adenine from the α-sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) of the rRNA. Ricin toxin A chain (RTA) uses Arg235 as the most critical arginine for binding to the P stalk through electrostatic interactions to facilitate depurination. Structural analysis showed that a P2 peptide binds to a hydrophobic pocket on RTA and the last two residues form hydrogen bonds with Arg235. The importance of hydrophobic residues relative to Arg235 in the interaction with the P stalk in vivo and on the toxicity of RTA is not known. Here, we mutated residues in the hydrophobic pocket to analyze their contribution to toxicity and depurination activity in yeast and in mammalian cells. We found that Leu232, Tyr183 and Phe240 contribute cumulatively to toxicity, with Leu232 being the most significant. A quadruple mutant, Y183A/L232A/R235A/F240A, which combined mutations in critical hydrophobic residues with R235A completely abolished the activity of RTA, indicating that Arg235 and hydrophobic residues are required for full biological activity. Y183A and F240A mutants had reduced activity on RNA, but higher activity on ribosomes compared with R235A in vitro, suggesting that they could partially regain activity upon interaction with ribosomes. These results expand the region of interaction between RTA and the P stalk critical for cellular activity to include the hydrophobic pocket and provide the first evidence that interaction of P stalk with the hydrophobic pocket promotes a conformational rearrangement of RTA to correctly position the active site residues for catalytic attack on the SRL.

scholarly journals Lessons learned in integrating traditional and NAM-based evidence to assess skin sensitization potential

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Greminger ◽  
Katy Goyak ◽  
Joe Frasca ◽  
Colin North
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Weight Of Evidence ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Adverse Outcome Pathway ◽  
Skin Sensitization ◽  
Reaction Products ◽  
Poorly Soluble

Classification of chemicals as skin sensitizers have traditionally relied on a small set of in vivo tests. Difficult to test substances, such as poorly soluble, mildly irritating, or those of Unknown or Variable Composition Complex reaction products or Biological Materials (UVCBs), producing weak or borderline results in Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA), often benefit from additional data integration in a weight of evidence (WOE) approach. Advances in multiple testing and non-testing methodologies (in vivo, in vitro, and in silico) can now provide clarity and confidence in concluding on skin sensitization potential. Here we present several case studies using a WOE approach with difficult to test substances and highlight the utility of Toxicological Prioritization IndexTM (ToxPi™) as a comparative visualization and integration tool of toxicology studies. The three test chemicals chosen represent two poorly soluble substances, tetrakis (2-ethylbutyl) orthosilicate and decyl palmitate, and one UVCB substance, alkylated anisole. Data from in vivo and in vitro assays representing multiple key events within the skin sensitization adverse outcome pathway (e.g., direct peptide reactivity assay, human cell line activation test, GARD®Skin, LLNA) were either gathered from publicly available sources or specifically generated. Incorporating the data on our test chemicals as well as chemicals of a known sensitization class (sensitizer, irritating non-sensitizer, non-sensitizer) into ToxPi™ revealed biological activity profiles which were used to support class prediction for the three test chemicals. Using this method, the biological activity profiles for all three test chemicals were most consistent with a non-sensitizing class. This paper demonstrates that visualizing the WOE using mechanistic data maximizes the value of all data to the overall assessment of skin sensitization potential by reducing the uncertainty associated with any one individual assay.

scholarly journals Antidiarrheal, antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials of methanol extract of Colocasia gigantea Hook. f. leaves: evidenced from in vivo and in vitro studies along with computer-aided approaches

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Safaet Alam ◽  
Mohammad A. Rashid ◽  
Md. Moklesur Rahman Sarker ◽  
Nazim Uddin Emon ◽  
Mohammad Arman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Castor Oil ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Methanol Extract ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Soluble Extract ◽  
Molecular Docking Study ◽  
In Silico Studies

Abstract Background Colocasia gigantea, locally named as kochu is well-known due to its various healing power. This research is to investigate the antidiarrheal, antimicrobial and antioxidant possibilities of the methanol soluble extract of Colocasia gigantea. Methods The antidiarrheal investigation was performed by using in vivo castor oil-induced diarrheal method whereas in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant investigation have been implemented by disc diffusion and DPPH scavenging method respectively. Moreover, in silico studies were followed by molecular docking analysis of several secondary metabolites that were appraised with Schrödinger-Maestro v11.1 and Biovia Discovery Studio. Results The induction of plant extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, b.w, p.o) has minimized the castor oil mediated diarrhea by 16.96% (p < 0.01) and 38.89% (p < 0.001) respectively compared to control group. The methanol extract of C. gigantea showed mild sensitivity against almost all the tested strains but it shows high consistency of phenolic content and yielded 67.68 μg/mL of IC50 value in the DPPH test. In the PASS prediction, selected isolated compounds have demonstrated significant antidiarrheal and antimicrobial activity following the Lipinski drug rules which have ascertained efficacy with the compounds in molecular docking study. Conclusion The results of this scientific research reflects that the methanol soluble extract of C. gigantea is safe and may provide possibilities of alleviation of diarrhea along with being a potential wellspring of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents which can be considered as an alternate source for exploration of new medicinal products in near future.

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