Surajit Bhattacharjya

Applications of saturation transfer difference NMR in biological systems.

The method of saturation transfer difference (STD) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an indispensable NMR tool in drug discovery. It identifies binding epitope(s) at the atomic resolution of small molecule ligands (e.g. organic drugs, peptides and oligosaccharides), while interacting with their receptors, such as proteins and/or nucleic acids. The method is widely used to screen active drug molecules, simultaneously ranking them in a qualitative way. STD NMR is highly successful for a variety of high molecular weight systems, such as whole viruses, platelets, intact cells, lipopolysaccharide micelles, membrane proteins, recombinant proteins and dispersion pigments. Modifications of STD pulse programs using (13)C and (15)N nuclei are now used to overcome the signal overlapping that occurs with more complex structures.

NMR structure of pardaxin, a pore-forming antimicrobial peptide, in lipopolysaccharide Micelles: Mechanism of outer membrane permeabilization

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is an important element against permeability of bactericidal agents, including antimicrobial peptides. However, structural determinants of antimicrobial peptides for LPS recognition are not clearly understood. Pardaxins (Pa1, Pa2, Pa3, and Pa4) are a group of pore-forming bactericidal peptides found in the mucous glands of sole fishes. Despite having a low net positive charge, pardaxins contain a broad spectrum of antibacterial activities. To elucidate the structural basis of LPS interactions of pardaxins, herein, we report the first three-dimensional structure of Pa4 bound to LPS micelles. The binding kinetics of Pa4 with LPS is estimated using [15N-Leu-19] relaxation dispersion NMR experiments. LPS/Pa4 interactions are further characterized by a number of biophysical methods, including isothermal titration calorimetry, 31P NMR, saturation transfer difference NMR, dynamic light scattering, and IR spectroscopy. In the LPS-Pa4 complex, Pa4 adopts a unique helix-turn-helix conformation resembling a “horseshoe.” Interestingly, the LPS-bound structure of Pa4 shows striking differences with the structures determined in lipid micelles or organic solvents. Saturation transfer difference NMR identifies residues of Pa4 that are intimately associated with LPS micelles. Collectively, our results provide mechanistic insights into the outer membrane permeabilization by pardaxin.

Structure, Interactions, and Antibacterial Activities of MSI-594 Derived Mutant Peptide MSI-594F5A in Lipopolysaccharide Micelles: Role of the Helical Hairpin Conformation in Outer-Membrane Permeabilization

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) provides a well-organized permeability barrier at the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Host defense cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) need to disrupt the outer membrane before gaining access to the inner cytoplasmic membrane or intracellular targets. Several AMPs are largely inactive against Gram-negative pathogens due to the restricted permeation through the LPS layer of the outer membrane. MSI-594 (GIGKFLKKAKKGIGAVLKVLTTG) is a highly active AMP with a broad-spectrum of activities against bacteria, fungi, and virus. In the context of LPS, MSI-594 assumes a hairpin helical structure dictated by packing interactions between two helical segments. Residue Phe5 of MSI-594 has been found to be engaged in important interhelical interactions. In order to understand plausible structural and functional inter-relationship of the helical hairpin structure of MSI-594 with outer membrane permeabilization, a mutant peptide, termed MSI-594F5A, containing a replacement of Phe5 with Ala has been prepared. We have compared antibacterial activities, outer and inner membrane permeabilizations, LPS binding affinity, perturbation of LPS micelles structures by MSI-594 and MSI-594F5A peptides. Our results demonstrated that the MSI-594F5A has lower activities against Gram-negative bacteria, due to limited permeabilization through the LPS layer, however, retains Gram-positive activity, akin to MSI-594. The atomic-resolution structure of MSI-594F5A has been determined in LPS micelles by NMR spectroscopy showing an amphipathic curved helix without any packing interactions. The 3D structures, interactions, and activities of MSI-594 and its mutant MSI-594F5A in LPS provide important mechanistic insights toward the requirements of LPS specific conformations and outer membrane permeabilization by broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides.

Multifunctional host defense peptides: functional and mechanistic insights from NMR structures of potent antimicrobial peptides

The ever‐increasing number of drug‐resistant bacteria is a major challenge in healthcare and creates an urgent need for novel compounds for treatment. Host defense antimicrobial peptides have high potential to become the new generation of antibiotic compounds. Antimicrobial peptides constitute a major part of the innate defense system in all life forms. Most of these cationic amphipathic peptides are often unstructured in isolation but readily adopt amphipathic helical structures in complex with lipid membranes. Such structural stabilization is primarily responsible for the membrane permeation and cell lysis activities of these molecules. Understanding structure–function correlations of antimicrobial peptides is critical for the development of nontoxic therapeutics. In this minireview, we discuss atomic‐resolution NMR structures of two highly potent helical antimicrobial peptides, MSI‐78 and MSI‐594, providing novel insights into their mechanisms of action.

Designed β-Boomerang Antiendotoxic and Antimicrobial Peptides: STRUCTURES AND ACTIVITIES IN LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE*♦

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an integral part of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is involved in a variety of biological processes including inflammation, septic shock, and resistance to host-defense molecules. LPS also provides an environment for folding of outer membrane proteins. In this work, we describe the structure-activity correlation of a series of 12-residue peptides in LPS. NMR structures of the peptides derived in complex with LPS reveal boomerang-like beta-strand conformations that are stabilized by intimate packing between the two aromatic residues located at the 4 and 9 positions. This structural feature renders these peptides with a high ability to neutralize endotoxicity, >80% at 10 nM concentration, of LPS. Replacements of these aromatic residues either with Ala or with Leu destabilizes the boomerang structure with the concomitant loss of antiendotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, the aromatic packing stabilizing the beta-boomerang structure in LPS is found to be maintained even in a truncated octapeptide, defining a structured LPS binding motif. The mode of action of the active designed peptides correlates well with their ability to perturb LPS micelle structures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of the peptides delineate beta-type conformations and immobilization of phosphate head groups of LPS. Trp fluorescence studies demonstrated selective interactions with LPS and the depth of insertion into the LPS bilayer. Our results demonstrate the requirement of LPS-specific structures of peptides for endotoxin neutralizations. In addition, we propose that structures of these peptides may be employed to design proteins for the outer membrane.Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an integral part of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is involved in a variety of biological processes including inflammation, septic shock, and resistance to host-defense molecules. LPS also provides an environment for folding of outer membrane proteins. In this work, we describe the structure-activity correlation of a series of 12-residue peptides in LPS. NMR structures of the peptides derived in complex with LPS reveal boomerang-like β-strand conformations that are stabilized by intimate packing between the two aromatic residues located at the 4 and 9 positions. This structural feature renders these peptides with a high ability to neutralize endotoxicity, >80% at 10 nm concentration, of LPS. Replacements of these aromatic residues either with Ala or with Leu destabilizes the boomerang structure with the concomitant loss of antiendotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, the aromatic packing stabilizing the β-boomerang structure in LPS is found to be maintained even in a truncated octapeptide, defining a structured LPS binding motif. The mode of action of the active designed peptides correlates well with their ability to perturb LPS micelle structures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of the peptides delineate β-type conformations and immobilization of phosphate head groups of LPS. Trp fluorescence studies demonstrated selective interactions with LPS and the depth of insertion into the LPS bilayer. Our results demonstrate the requirement of LPS-specific structures of peptides for endotoxin neutralizations. In addition, we propose that structures of these peptides may be employed to design proteins for the outer membrane.

Helical Hairpin Structure of a Potent Antimicrobial Peptide MSI-594 in Lipopolysaccharide Micelles by NMR Spectroscopy

Essential understanding: Elucidation of structural requirements and interactions of antimicrobial peptides with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are essential to understand the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides. The highly active antimicrobial peptide MSI-594 (see figure for electrostatic potential surface) acquires a novel helical hairpin structure in complex with LPS. The structure and interactions of MSI-594 with LPS presented here provide important insights into the mechanism of outer membrane permeabilization by antimicrobial peptides.

NMR Structures and Interactions of Temporin-1Tl and Temporin-1Tb with Lipopolysaccharide Micelles MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS INTO OUTER MEMBRANE PERMEABILIZATION AND SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITY

Temporins are a group of closely related short antimicrobial peptides from frog skin. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, plays important roles in the activity of temporins. Earlier studies have found that LPS induces oligomerization of temporin-1Tb (TB) thus preventing its translocation across the outer membrane and, as a result, reduces its activity on Gram-negative bacteria. On the other hand, temporin-1Tl (TL) exhibits higher activity, presumably because of lack of such oligomerization. A synergistic mechanism was proposed, involving TL and TB in overcoming the LPS-mediated barrier. Here, to gain insights into interactions of TL and TB within LPS, we investigated the structures and interactions of TL, TB, and TL+TB in LPS micelles, using NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy. In the context of LPS, TL assumes a novel antiparallel dimeric helical structure sustained by intimate packing between aromatic-aromatic and aromatic-aliphatic residues. By contrast, independent TB has populations of helical and aggregated conformations in LPS. The LPS-induced aggregated states of TB are largely destabilized in the presence of TL. Saturation transfer difference NMR studies have delineated residues of TL and TB in close contact with LPS and enhanced interactions of these two peptides with LPS, when combined together. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer and 31P NMR have pointed out the proximity of TL and TB in LPS and conformational changes of LPS, respectively. Importantly, these results provide the first structural insights into the mode of action and synergism of antimicrobial peptides at the level of the LPS-outer membrane.

Lipopolysaccharide bound structures of the active fragments of fowlicidin‐1, a cathelicidin family of antimicrobial and antiendotoxic peptide from chicken, determined by transferred nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy

Cathelicidins comprise a major family of host‐defense antimicrobial peptides in vertebrates. The C‐terminal part of the cathelicidins is bestowed with antimicrobial and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) neutralizing activities. In this work, we repot high resolution solution structures of two nontoxic active fragments, residues 1–16 or RG16 and residues 8–26 or LK19, of fowlicidin‐1, a cathelicidin family of peptide from chicken, as a complex with LPS using two‐dimensional transferred nuclear Overhauser effect (Tr‐NOE) spectroscopy. Both peptides are highly flexible and do not assume any preferred conformations in their free states. Upon complexation with endotoxin or LPS, peptides undergo structural transitions towards folded conformations. Structure calculations reveal that the LK19 peptide adopts a well defined helical structure with a bend at the middle. By contrast, the first seven amino acids of RG16 are found to be flexible followed by a helical conformation for the residues L8‐A15. In addition, a truncated version of LK19 encompassing residues A15‐K26 or AK12 displays an amphipathic helical structure in LPS. Saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR studies demonstrate that all peptides, RG16, LK19, and AK12, are in close proximity with LPS, whereby the aromatic residues showed the strongest STD effects. Fluorescence studies with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled LPS in the presence of full‐length fowlicidin‐1, LK19, RG16, and AK12 indicated that LPS‐neutralization property of these peptides may result from plausible dissociation of LPS aggregates. The helical structures of peptide fragments derived from fowlicidin‐1 in LPS could be utilized to develop nontoxic antiendotoxic compounds.

Lipopolysaccharide Neutralizing Peptide–Porphyrin Conjugates for Effective Photoinactivation and Intracellular Imaging of Gram-Negative Bacteria Strains

A simple and specific strategy based on the bioconjugation of a photosensitizer protophophyrin IX (PpIX) with a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding antimicrobial peptide YI13WF (YVLWKRKRKFCFI-Amide) has been developed for the effective fluorescent imaging and photodynamic inactivation of Gram-negative bacterial strains. The intracellular fluorescent imaging and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) studies supported our hypothesis that the PpIX-YI13WF conjugates could serve as efficient probes to image the bacterial strains and meanwhile indicated the potent activities against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens especially for those with antibiotics resistance when exposed to the white light irradiation. Compared to the monomeric PpIX-YI13WF conjugate, the dimeric conjugate indicated the stronger fluorescent imaging signals and higher photoinactivation toward the Gram-negative bacterial pathogens throughout the whole concentration range. In addition, the photodynamic bacterial inactivation also demonstrated more potent activity than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of dimeric PpIX-YI13WF conjugate itself observed for E. coli DH5a (~4 times), S. enterica (~8 times), and other Gram-negative strains including antibiotic-resistant E. coli BL21 (~8 times) and K. pneumoniae (~16 times). Moreover, both fluorescent imaging and photoinactivation measurements also demonstrated that the dimeric PpIX-YI13WF conjugate could selectively recognize bacterial strains over mammalian cells and generate less photo damage to mammalian cells. We believed that the enhanced fluorescence and bacterial inactivation were probably attributed to the higher binding affinity between dimeric photosensitizer peptide conjugate and LPS components on the surface of bacterial strains, which were the results of efficient multivalent interactions.

Design of short membrane selective antimicrobial peptides containing tryptophan and arginine residues for improved activity, salt‐resistance, and biocompatibility

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) kill microbes by non‐specific membrane permeabilization, making them ideal templates for designing novel peptide‐based antibiotics that can combat multi‐drug resistant pathogens. For maximum efficacy in vivo and in vitro, AMPs must be biocompatible, salt‐tolerant and possess broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity. These attributes can be obtained by rational design of peptides guided by good understanding of peptide structure‐function. Toward this end, this study investigates the influence of charge and hydrophobicity on the activity of tryptophan and arginine rich decamer peptides engineered from a salt resistant human β‐defensin‐28 variant. Mechanistic investigations of the decamers with detergents mimicking the composition of bacterial and mammalian membrane, reveal a correlation between improved antibacterial activity and the increase in tryptophan and positive residue content, while keeping hemolysis low. The potent antimicrobial activity and high cell membrane selective behavior of the two most active decamers, D5 and D6, are attributed to an optimum peptide charge to hydrophobic ratio bestowed by systematic arginine and tryptophan substitution. D5 and D6 show surface localization behavior with binding constants of 1.86 × 108 and 2.6 × 108 M−1, respectively, as determined by isothermal calorimetry measurements. NMR derived structures of D5 and D6 in SDS detergent micelles revealed proximity of Trp and Arg residues in an extended structural scaffold. Such potential cation–π interactions may be critical in cell permeabilization of the AMPs. The fundamental characterization of the engineered decamers provided in this study improves the understanding of structure–activity relationship of short arginine tryptophan rich AMPs, which will pave the way for future de novo design of potent AMPs for therapeutic and biomedical applications. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 37–49.