Henri Labbé

Production, isolation and characterization of (Leu4) - and (Ile4)surfactins from Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis coproduces several surfactin variants that are powerful biosurfactants and have potential applications in biology and industry. A single amino acid substitution in the heptapeptide moiety of surfactins strongly modifies their properties. To better establish structure-activity relationships and to search new variants with enhanced properties, Bacillus subtilis was grown into two modified culture media. Two new variants were isolated by chromatographic methods and studied by NMR spectroscopy. As planned, modifications consisted in the substitution of the l-valine residue at the fourth position by a more hydrophobic residue, i.e., leucine or isoleucine. These [Leu4]- and [Ile4]surfactins have a higher affinity for hydrophobic solvents and a twice improved surfactant power. Structure-property correlations were confirmed by analysis of the hydrophobic residue distribution in the three-dimensional model of the structure of surfactin in solution.

Lipopeptides with Improved Properties: Structure by NMR, Purification by HPLC and Structure–Activity Relationships of New Isoleucyl‐rich Surfactins

The biosynthesis of bacterial isoleucyl‐rich surfactins was controlled by supplementation of L‐isoleucine to the culture medium. Two new variants, the [Ile4,7]‐ and [Ile2,4,7]surfactins, were thus produced by Bacillus subtilis and their separation was achieved by reverse‐phase HPLC. Amino acids of the heptapeptide moiety were analysed by chemical methods, and the lipid moiety was identified to β‐hydroxy anteiso pentadecanoic acid by combined GC/MS. Sequences were established on the basis of two‐dimensional NMR data. Because conformational parameters issuing from NMR spectra suggested that the cyclic backbone fold was globally conserved in the new variants, structure–activity relationships were discussed in details on the basis of the three‐dimensional model of surfactin in solution. Indeed, both variants have increased surface properties compared with that of surfactin, and this improvement is assigned to an increase of the hydrophobicity of the apolar domain favouring micellization. Furthermore, the additional Leu‐to‐Ile substitution at position 2 in the [Ile2,4,7]surfactin leads to a substantial increase of its affinity for calcium, when compared with that of [Ile4,7]surfactin or surfactin. This effect is assigned, from the model, to an increase in the accessibility of the acidic side chains constituting the calcium binding site. Thus, the propensities of such active lipopeptides for both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions were improved, further substantiating that they can be rationally designed.

Liposomes injected intravenously into mice associate with liver mitochondria.

Liposomes encapsulating uranyl acetate or ferritin were injected intravenously into mice. At periods of 20 min, 1 h and 4 h post-injection, animals were killed, and livers were excised. Transmission electron micrographs of liver tissue showed association of oligolamellar liposomes with mitochondria for each time period. At 1 h post-injection, an average of one out of ten mitochondria was associated with liposomes. In most cases, the liposomes were clearly enclosed in a cytoplasmic vacuole. Phagocytosis by Kupffer cells as well as fusion with primary lysosomes and inclusion in secondary lysosomes was observed. No difference in intracellular fate was observed when lactosylceramide was incorporated in the liposome bilayers, suggesting that the differences observed in biochemical studies are at the level of liposome-plasma membrane interaction. When liposomes containing uranyl acetate were intravenously injected and hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion one hour later, transmission EM revealed the presence of liposomes in these cells, in cytoplasmic vacuoles in the cytoplasm and in association with mitochondria. A freeze-fracture-etching analysis of liver tissue excised 20 min after injection of liposomes encapsulating ferritin, further supported the observation that liposomes associate with mitochondria in the liver.

Rôle des ponts disulfure dans le repliement en épingle à cheveux de l’androctonine. Relations structure–activité

Abstract Androctonin is a 25-residue antibacterial peptide extracted from the hemolymph of the scorpion Androctonus australis. In order to understand the structural requirements for hairpin fold and for interactions with the bacterial membrane, we have analysed the chemical shifts and the nOes of three synthetic androctonin mutants for which the disulfide bridges were selectively removed.