scholarly journals Cholesterols Work as a Molecular Regulator of the Antimicrobial Peptide-Membrane Interactions

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Li ◽  
Xuemei Lu ◽  
Wendong Ma ◽  
Zhonglan Chen ◽  
Shuqing Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Lipid Membrane ◽  
Animal Cell ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Orientation Distributions ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Membrane Poration

The existing cholesterols (Chols) in animal cell membranes play key roles in many fundamental cellular processes, which also promise the possibility to modulate the bioactivity of various membrane-active biomacromolecules. Here, combining dynamic giant unilamellar vesicle leakage experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, the inhibitory effect of Chols on the membrane poration activity of melittin (Mel), a typical natural antimicrobial peptide, is demonstrated. Molecular details of the Mel-Chol interactions in membrane show that, for a Chol-contained lipid membrane, Mel exposure would perturb the symmetric bilayer structure of the membrane and specifically influence the location and orientation distributions of Chol molecules to an asymmetric state between the two leaflets; moreover, the Mel-Chol interactions are significantly influenced by the membrane environment such as unsaturation degree of the lipid components. Such inhibitory effect is normally ascribed to an accumulation of Chol molecules around the membrane-bound peptide chains and formation of Chol-Mel complexes in the membrane, which hinder the further insertion of peptides into the membrane. This work clarifies the molecular interactions between membrane-active peptides and Chol-contained membranes, and suggest the possibility to develop targeted drugs due to the membrane component specificity between bacterial and animal cells.

scholarly journals Antifungal Activity of N-(4-Halobenzyl)amides against Candida spp. and Molecular Modeling Studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 419
Author(s):  
Yunierkis Perez-Castillo ◽  
Ricardo Carneiro Montes ◽  
Cecília Rocha da Silva ◽  
João Batista de Andrade Neto ◽  
Celidarque da Silva Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Benzoic Acid ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Redox Balance ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Candida Spp ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Antifungal Action ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Fungal infections remain a high-incidence worldwide health problem that is aggravated by limited therapeutic options and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Cinnamic and benzoic acid amides have previously shown bioactivity against different species belonging to the Candida genus. Here, 20 cinnamic and benzoic acid amides were synthesized and tested for inhibition of C. krusei ATCC 14243 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019. Five compounds inhibited the Candida strains tested, with compound 16 (MIC = 7.8 µg/mL) producing stronger antifungal activity than fluconazole (MIC = 16 µg/mL) against C. krusei ATCC 14243. It was also tested against eight Candida strains, including five clinical strains resistant to fluconazole, and showed an inhibitory effect against all strains tested (MIC = 85.3–341.3 µg/mL). The MIC value against C. krusei ATCC 6258 was 85.3 mcg/mL, while against C. krusei ATCC 14243, it was 10.9 times smaller. This strain had greater sensitivity to the antifungal action of compound 16. The inhibition of C. krusei ATCC 14243 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019 was also achieved by compounds 2, 9, 12, 14 and 15. Computational experiments combining target fishing, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the potential mechanism of action of compound 16 against C. krusei. From these, a multi-target mechanism of action is proposed for this compound that involves proteins related to critical cellular processes such as the redox balance, kinases-mediated signaling, protein folding and cell wall synthesis. The modeling results might guide future experiments focusing on the wet-lab investigation of the mechanism of action of this series of compounds, as well as on the optimization of their inhibitory potency.

scholarly journals Encapsulated actomyosin patterns drive cell-like membrane shape changes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yashar Bashirzadeh ◽  
Hossein Moghimianavval ◽  
Allen P Liu
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Membrane ◽  
Animal Cell ◽  
Cell Cortex ◽  
Cortical Actin ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Actin Nucleator ◽  
Lipid Bilayer Vesicles ◽  
Network Patterns ◽  
Membrane Shape ◽  
Shape Changes

Cell shape changes from locomotion to cytokinesis are, to a large extent, driven by myosin-driven remodeling of cortical actin patterns. Passive crosslinkers such as α-actinin and fascin as well actin nucleator Arp2/3 complex largely determine the architecture and connectivity of actin network patterns; consequently, they regulate network remodeling and membrane shape changes. Membrane constriction in animal cell cytokinesis proceeds by assembly and contraction of a contractile ring pattern rich in α-actinin and myosin at the equator of the cell cortex, with which the ring is contiguous. Here we reconstitute actomyosin networks inside cell-sized lipid bilayer vesicles and show that, depending on vesicle size and concentrations of α-actinin and fascin, actomyosin networks assemble into ring and aster-like patterns. Anchoring actin to the membrane enhances the interaction of the contractile networks with lipid membrane but does not change the architecture of the patterns. A membrane-bound actomyosin ring exerts force and constricts the membrane. An Arp2/3 complex-mediated actomyosin cortex is shown to assemble a ring-like pattern at the equatorial cortex and contribute to myosin-driven clustering of the cortex and consequently membrane deformation. An active gel theory unifies a model for the observed membrane constriction and protrusion induced by the membrane-bound actomyosin networks.

Some Aspects of the Polyhexamethyleneguanidine Salts Effect on Cell Cultures

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Mandygra ◽  
A. Lysytsia
Keyword(s):  
Proliferative Activity ◽  
Cell Monolayer ◽  
Eukaryotic Cell ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Membrane Bound Enzymes ◽  
Anion Type ◽  
Cell Culture Methods

Aim. To investigate the effect of polyhexamethyleneguanidine (PHMG) to eukaryotic cell culture. Methods. The passaged bovine tracheal cells culture (TCC) and primary culture of chicken embryo fi broblasts (FCE) were used in the experiments. TCC and FCE monolayers were treated with aqueous solutions of PHMG chloride or succinate. The method of PHMG polycation adsorption to the cells’ plasma membrane together with microscopy were applied. Results. The dependence of PHMG effect on the eukaryotic cells on the agent concentration, duration of exposure and the anion type has been fi xed. The PHMG concentration of 10 –5 per cent (0.1 μg/ml) never causes degradation of the previously formed cell monolayer, while the higher concentrations damage it. The conditions of the PHMG chloride and succinate’s negative effect on cell proliferation and inhibition of monolayer formation were determined. The hypothesis that under certain conditions PHMG stimulates the proliferative activity of the cells has been confi rmed. Stimulation may be associated with non-specifi c stress adaptation of cells. In this case, it is due to modifi cations of the cell membrane after PHMG adsorption to it. Conclusions. PHMG polycation binds with the membrane’s phosphoglycerides fi rmly and irreversibly. A portion of the lipids are removed from participation in the normal cellular processes at that. At the same time, the synthesis of new lipids and membrane-bound enzymes is probably accelerated. The phospholip ids’ neogenesis acceleration can stimulate mitosis under certain conditions. The obtained results can be used in the biotechnologies.

scholarly journals Towards designing globular antimicrobial peptide mimics: role of polar functional groups in biomimetic ternary antimicrobial polymers

Soft Matter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garima Rani ◽  
Kenichi Kuroda ◽  
Satyavani Vemparala
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Bacterial Membrane ◽  
Simulation Data ◽  
Antimicrobial Polymers ◽  
Polar Groups ◽  
Methacrylate Polymers ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Polar Functional Groups

Using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, we study the interaction of ternary methacrylate polymers, composed of charged cationic, hydrophobic and neutral polar groups, with model bacterial membrane. Our simulation data shows...

scholarly journals Computational Design of Macrocyclic Binders of S100B(ββ): Novel Peptide Theranostics

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 721
Author(s):  
Srinivasaraghavan Kannan ◽  
Pietro G. A. Aronica ◽  
Thanh Binh Nguyen ◽  
Jianguo Li ◽  
Chandra S. Verma
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Stapled Peptides ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Limited Success ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Partner Proteins

S100B(ββ) proteins are a family of multifunctional proteins that are present in several tissues and regulate a wide variety of cellular processes. Their altered expression levels have been associated with several human diseases, such as cancer, inflammatory disorders and neurodegenerative conditions, and hence are of interest as a therapeutic target and a biomarker. Small molecule inhibitors of S100B(ββ) have achieved limited success. Guided by the wealth of available experimental structures of S100B(ββ) in complex with diverse peptides from various protein interacting partners, we combine comparative structural analysis and molecular dynamics simulations to design a series of peptides and their analogues (stapled) as S100B(ββ) binders. The stapled peptides were subject to in silico mutagenesis experiments, resulting in optimized analogues that are predicted to bind to S100B(ββ) with high affinity, and were also modified with imaging agents to serve as diagnostic tools. These stapled peptides can serve as theranostics, which can be used to not only diagnose the levels of S100B(ββ) but also to disrupt the interactions of S100B(ββ) with partner proteins which drive disease progression, thus serving as novel therapeutics.

GSK-3 Inhibitors in Regulation and Controlling of Colon Carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sitansu Sekhar Nanda ◽  
Md Imran Hossain ◽  
Heongkyu Ju ◽  
Dong Kee Yi
Keyword(s):  
Colon Carcinoma ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Glycogen Synthesis ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Serine Threonine Kinase ◽  
Threonine Kinase ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Adenocarcinoma Cells ◽  
Membrane Bound

Background: GSK-3 inhibitors became a novel therapeutic agent treating cancer. There are so many uses of GSK-3 inhibitor for treating cancer like breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, and no pathological changes are shown by the morphological examination of GSK-3. Objectives: This review describes the recent affairs using GSK-3 inhibitors, mainly treating in colon carcinoma. The authorsAuthors have also shown the different mechanisms of different GSK-3 inhibitors for treating various cancers and proposed some mechanisms that can be useful for further research by GSK-3 inhibitors for various cancerscancer including colon carcinoma. Results: The majority of the cancers and pre-cancerous lesions are stimulated by the transformation of membrane-bound arachidonic acid (AA) to eicosanoids for the viability, proliferation, and spread of cancer. GSK-3 inhibitors can reinstate hostility to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) responsiveness in gastric adenocarcinoma cells. GSK-3, the final enzyme in glycogen synthesis, is a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates varied sequences that are more than a hundred in number, within proteins in an array of heterogeneous pathways. It is an essential module of an exceptionally huge number of cellular processes, a fundamental role in many metabolic processes and diseases. Many patients achieve long term remission with outstanding survival diagnosed with colon cancer through it. Conclusion: Before the extensive application of these proposed mechanisms of GSK-3 inhibitor, further evaluation and clinical studies are needed. After doing the appropriate clinical studies and morphological examination, it can be appropriate for extensive application.

scholarly journals Nothing Regular about the Regulins: Distinct Functional Properties of SERCA Transmembrane Peptide Regulatory Subunits

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8891
Author(s):  
Nishadh Rathod ◽  
Jessi J. Bak ◽  
Joseph O. Primeau ◽  
M’Lynn E. Fisher ◽  
Lennane Michel Espinoza-Fonseca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Functional Properties ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Regulatory Subunits ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Functional Consequences ◽  
Differential Binding ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

The sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) is responsible for maintaining calcium homeostasis in all eukaryotic cells by actively transporting calcium from the cytosol into the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) lumen. Calcium is an important signaling ion, and the activity of SERCA is critical for a variety of cellular processes such as muscle contraction, neuronal activity, and energy metabolism. SERCA is regulated by several small transmembrane peptide subunits that are collectively known as the “regulins”. Phospholamban (PLN) and sarcolipin (SLN) are the original and most extensively studied members of the regulin family. PLN and SLN inhibit the calcium transport properties of SERCA and they are required for the proper functioning of cardiac and skeletal muscles, respectively. Myoregulin (MLN), dwarf open reading frame (DWORF), endoregulin (ELN), and another-regulin (ALN) are newly discovered tissue-specific regulators of SERCA. Herein, we compare the functional properties of the regulin family of SERCA transmembrane peptide subunits and consider their regulatory mechanisms in the context of the physiological and pathophysiological roles of these peptides. We present new functional data for human MLN, ELN, and ALN, demonstrating that they are inhibitors of SERCA with distinct functional consequences. Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations of SERCA in complex with the transmembrane domains of MLN and ALN provide insights into how differential binding to the so-called inhibitory groove of SERCA—formed by transmembrane helices M2, M6, and M9—can result in distinct functional outcomes.

scholarly journals Neck linker docking is critical for Kinesin-1 force generation in cells but at a cost to motor speed and processivity

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Breane G Budaitis ◽  
Shashank Jariwala ◽  
Dana N Reinemann ◽  
Kristin I Schimert ◽  
Guido Scarabelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Trap ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Force Generation ◽  
Motor Speed ◽  
Force Output ◽  
Mechanical Element ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Run Lengths ◽  
In Cells

Kinesin force generation involves ATP-induced docking of the neck linker (NL) along the motor core. However, the roles of the proposed steps of NL docking, cover-neck bundle (CNB) and asparagine latch (N-latch) formation, during force generation are unclear. Furthermore, the necessity of NL docking for transport of membrane-bound cargo in cells has not been tested. We generated kinesin-1 motors impaired in CNB and/or N-latch formation based on molecular dynamics simulations. The mutant motors displayed reduced force output and inability to stall in optical trap assays but exhibited increased speeds, run lengths, and landing rates under unloaded conditions. NL docking thus enhances force production but at a cost to speed and processivity. In cells, teams of mutant motors were hindered in their ability to drive transport of Golgi elements (high-load cargo) but not peroxisomes (low-load cargo). These results demonstrate that the NL serves as a mechanical element for kinesin-1 transport under physiological conditions.

scholarly journals Role of glutathione on cell adhesion and volume.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Geloen ◽  
Emmanuelle Danty
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Cell Volume ◽  
Reduced Glutathione ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Proliferation And Apoptosis ◽  
Glutamylcysteine Synthetase

Glutathione is the most abundant thiol in animal cells. Reduced glutathione (GSH) is a major intracellular antioxidant neutralizing free radicals and detoxifying electrophiles. It plays important roles in many cellular processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. In the present study we demonstrate that extracellular concentration of reduced glutathione markedly increases cell volume within few hours, in a dose-response manner. Pre-incubation of cells with BSO, the inhibitor of 7-glutamylcysteine synthetase, responsible for the first step in intracellular glutathione synthesis did not change the effect of reduced glutathione on cell volume suggesting a mechanism limited to the interaction of extracellular reduced glutathione on cell membrane. Results show that reduced GSH decreases cell adhesion resulting in an increased cell volume. Since many cell types are able to transport of GSH out, the present results suggest that this could be a fundamental self-regulation of cell volume, giving the cells a self-control on their adhesion proteins.

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