Vania Monaco

Orientation and immersion depth of a helical lipopeptaibol in membranes using TOAC as an ESR probe

Trichogin GA IV is a lipopeptaibol antibiotic characterized by the sequence nOct-Aib1-Gly-Leu-Aib4-Gly-Gly-Leu-Aib8-Gly-Ile- Lol (nOct: n-octanoyl; Aib: alpha-aminoisobutyric acid; Lol, leucinol), which exhibits membrane-modifying properties. We synthesized step-by-step by solution methods three trichogin analogues, each with a single Aib --> 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid (TOAC) substitution. The similarity in the conformational propensities of the Calpha-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acids Aib and TOAC allowed us to exploit these analogues to investigate the orientation and therefore the mechanism of action of trichogin in the membranes by the electron spin resonance (ESR) technique. A conformational analysis by Fourier transform ir absorption and CD in different organic solvents and in a membrane-mimetic environment indicated that the conformation of the natural lipopeptaibol remains almost unchanged in the three analogues. Moreover, for all of the analogues permeability measurements revealed membrane-modifying properties comparable to those of trichogin. Our ESR investigation demonstrated that, in liposomes based on phosphatidylcholine, trichogin lays parallel to the membrane surface with its hydrophobic face oriented toward the membrane interior. These results suggest that trichogin might modify membrane permeability via a carpet-like mechanism, at least in liposomes and in the absence of a transmembrane potential.

Determining the occurrence of a 3 10 -helix and an α-helix in two different segments of a lipopeptaibol antibiotic using TOAC, a nitroxide spin-labeled C α -tetrasubstituted α-aminoacid

Trichogin GA IV is a 11-residue lipopeptaibol antibiotic exhibiting membrane modifying properties. We synthesized step-by-step by solution methods three trichogin analogues, each with a double Aib (alpha-aminoisobutyric acid)-->TOAC (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid) replacement. The strict similarity in the conformational propensities of Aib and TOAC allowed us to exploit these analogues in a detailed investigation of the conformation of this lipopeptaibol in different organic solvents and in a membrane-mimetic environment using in particular the double spin labeling ESR technique. We conclude that the secondary structure in solution remains essentially unchanged if compared to that previously found in the crystal state for trichogin. More specifically, the N-terminal region of the peptide folds in a 3(10)-helix, while the central and C-terminal regions are mainly alpha-helical. An additional, significant proof for the modest plasticity of the trichogin structure was obtained by an X-ray diffraction analysis of the nOct-[TOAC4,8, Leu-OMe11] analogue. For the three analogues permeability measurements revealed membrane-modifying properties comparable to those of natural trichogin.

Crystallographic structure of a helical lipopeptaibol antibiotic analogue

An X-ray diffraction analysis of the [Fmoc0, TOAC4,8, Leu-OMe11]analogue of the lipopeptaibol antibiotic trichogin A Iv shows that the undecapeptide is folded in a right-handed, mixed α/310-helix. The helical molecules are connected in a head-to-tail arrangement along the b-axis through C=O...H-N intermolecular H-bonding. This packing mode generates a hydrophobic cavity where the Fmoc Nα-protecting groups are accommodated. The distances and angles between the nitroxide groups of the two TOAC residues, separated by one turn of the α-helix, have been determined.

Conformation and membrane activity of an analogue of the peptaibol antibiotic trichogin GA IV with a lipophilic amino acid at the N-terminus.

We have synthesized by solution‐phase methods two analogues of the 11‐residue lipopeptaibol antibiotic trichogin GA IV in which the N‐terminal n‐octanoyl group is replaced either by an N‐acetylated 2‐amino‐2‐methyl‐l‐undecanoic acid or by an N‐acetylated α‐aminoisobutyric acid. CD, FTIR absorption, and NMR analyses unequivocally show that the main structural features of trichogin GA IV are preserved in these analogues. Since only the peptide containing the lipophilic chain exhibits membrane‐modifying properties, these results strongly support the view that moving the long acyl moiety from the Nα‐blocking group to the side chain of the N‐terminal extra‐residue does not affect the conformational properties or the membrane activity of trichogin GA IV.

Molecular dynamics and spatial distribution of TOAC spin-labelled peptaibols studied in glassy liquid by echo-detected EPR spectroscopy

Abstract2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-l-oxyl-4-carboxylic acid (TOAC) spin-labelled analogues of the Aib-rich peptide (peptaibol) Trichogin GA IV are investigated in a glassy methanol/glycerol (70/30 v/v%) system, using conventional CW EPR and electron spin echo spectroscopy. Echo-detected (ED) EPR spectra indicate that the labels undergo restricted orientational motion (libration). Comparison with the small molecular spin probe Tempone shows that the dynamics of peptide molecules is determined by their structure and not by the surrounding medium. At the terminal positions (position 1 and 8) TOAC residues were found to be more flexible than at the central 4th position. Instantaneous diffusion mechanism in electron spin echo, which also contributes to the ED EPR spectra, was employed for deriving the local concentration of peptaibols. This approach may serve as a tool for investigation of peptide aggregation. In the studied model glassy solution the peptaibols were found to be randomly distributed.

TOAC: a useful Cα-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid for peptide conformational analysis by CD spectroscopy in the visible region. Part I

Doubly labelled 4-amino-4-carboxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TOAC)-containing trichogin analogues showed a correlation between the CD intensity of the TOAC transition and their conformation. The helical-inducing property of the TOAC residue is position dependent and, apart from the N-terminal position, better than that of Aib.