Structure of human MIP-3alpha chemokine.

The structure of the human macrophage inflammatory protein-3alpha (MIP-3alpha) has been determined at 1.81 angstroms resolution by X-ray crystallography. The dimer crystallized in the tetragonal space group I4, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 83.99, c = 57.20 angstroms. The crystals exhibit two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The structure was solved by the molecular-replacement method and the model was refined to a conventional R value of 20.6% (R(free) = 25.7%). MIP-3alpha possesses the same monomeric structure as previously described for other chemokines. However, in addition to limited structural changes in the beta1-beta2 hairpin of monomer B, the electron density is fully defined for a few extra residues at the N- and C-termini of monomer A and the C-terminus of monomer B compared with MIP-3alpha in space group P6(1). As the N-terminal and loop regions have been shown to be critical for receptor binding and signaling, this additional structural information may help in determining the basis of the CCR6 selectivity of MIP-3alpha.

Developmental expression and distribution of sheep beta-defensin-2.

The aim of this study was to define the ontogeny of sheep beta-defensin-2 (SBD-2) mRNA and peptide in selected tissues of fetal, neonatal and adult sheep by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Fetal and neonatal lambs had significantly greater SBD-2 tissue distribution than adult sheep. For all ages, the intestines had consistent SBD-2 mRNA expression while extra intestinal expression was sporadic and weak. In adult sheep, SBD-2 mRNA levels decreased from the jejunum caudally to the rectum and a pooled sample from all age groups showed a similar tendency. SBD-2 immunoreactive cells were predominantly in the crypts and base of villi in the small intestine and in a modest number of glands in the large intestine. Interestingly, ileal follicle-associated epithelium lacked detectable SBD-2 immunoreactivity. SBD-2 mRNA and peptide expression are greatest in the intestinal tract and tissue distribution progressively decreases with maturity.

Antimicrobial peptides in animals and their role in host defences.

Domesticated animals have a large variety of antimicrobial peptides that serve as natural innate barriers limiting microbial infection or, in some instances, act as an integral component in response to inflammation or microbial infection. These peptides differ in size, composition, mechanisms of activity and range of antimicrobial specificities. They are expressed in many tissues, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophages and mucosal epithelial cells. There is a small group of anionic antimicrobial peptides found in ruminants and a much larger group of cationic antimicrobial peptides found in all domesticated animals. The cationic peptides include linear, helical peptides, linear peptides rich in proline and cysteine-stabilized peptides with a beta-sheet and are commonly referred to as cathelicidins and defensins. These peptides are generally broad-spectrum for Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi (e.g. myeloid antimicrobial peptides, alpha-, beta-defensins, and protegrins) or are specific to one of these groups (e.g. porcine cecropin P1, Bac5, Bac7, PR-39 and prophenin).

Human macrophage inflammatory protein 3alpha: protein and peptide nuclear magnetic resonance solution structures, dimerization, dynamics, and anti-infective properties.

Human macrophage inflammatory protein 3alpha (MIP-3alpha), also known as CCL20, is a 70-amino-acid chemokine which exclusively binds to chemokine receptor 6. In addition, the protein also has direct antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral activities. The solution structure of MIP-3alpha was solved by the use of two-dimensional homonuclear proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The structure reveals the characteristic chemokine fold, with three antiparallel beta strands followed by a C-terminal alpha helix. In contrast to the crystal structures of MIP-3alpha, the solution structure was found to be monomeric. Another difference between the NMR and crystal structures lies in the angle of the alpha helix with respect to the beta strands, which measure 69 and approximately 56.5 degrees in the two structures, respectively. NMR diffusion and pH titration studies revealed a distinct tendency for MIP-3alpha to form dimers at neutral pH and monomers at lower pH, dependent on the protonation state of His40. Molecular dynamics simulations of both the monomeric and the dimeric forms of MIP-3alpha supported the notion that the chemokine undergoes a change in helix angle upon dimerization and also highlighted the important hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding contacts made by His40 in the dimer interface. Moreover, a constrained N terminus and a smaller binding groove were observed in dimeric MIP-3alpha simulations, which could explain why monomeric MIP-3alpha may be more adept at receptor binding and activation. The solution structure of a synthetic peptide consisting of the last 20 residues of MIP-3alpha displayed a highly amphipathic alpha helix, reminiscent of various antimicrobial peptides. Antimicrobial assays with this peptide revealed strong and moderate bactericidal activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. This confirms that the C-terminal alpha-helical region of MIP-3alpha plays a significant part in its broad anti-infective activity.

Killing of African trypanosomes by antimicrobial peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides are components of the innate immune systems of a wide variety of eukaryotic organisms and are being developed as antibiotics in the fight against bacterial and fungal infections. We explored the potential activities of antimicrobial peptides against the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei, a vector-borne protozoan parasite that is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in both humans and animals. Three classes of mammalian antimicrobial peptides were tested: alpha-defensins, beta-defensins, and cathelicidins. Although members of all 3 classes of antimicrobial peptides showed activity, those derived from the cathelicidin class were most effective, killing both insect and bloodstream forms of the parasite. The mechanism of action of the cathelicidins against T. brucei involves disruption of surface membrane integrity. Administration of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides to mice with late-stage T. brucei infection acutely decreased parasitemia and prolonged survival. These results highlight the potential use of antimicrobial peptides for the treatment of African trypanosomiasis.

Host defense functions of proteolytically processed and parent (unprocessed) cathelicidins of rabbit granulocytes.

Members of the cathelicidin family are present in all mammals studied. Generally, these proteins contain a conserved N-terminal domain and a structurally and functionally divergent C-terminal region that expresses antibacterial or other activities when proteolytically released. Rabbit granulocytes produce CAP18, a cathelicidin that conforms to this structural and functional organization, and also 15-kDa protein isoforms (p15s) that share several key structural features with other cathelicidins but apparently do not undergo processing with release of an active peptide. To further define the importance of proteolysis in the antibacterial activities of these proteins, we have purified from granulocytes proCAP18, its C-terminal peptide (CAP18p), and two p15 isoforms to apparent homogeneity. Of these four polypeptides, only CAP18p was independently cytotoxic to encapsulated Escherichia coli (90% inhibitory concentration, approximately 600 nM) but it was approximately 50-fold less potent on a molar basis than the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI). However, all four cathelicidin species, notably including proCAP18, exhibited antibacterial synergy with BPI, and the p15s also displayed synergy with CAP18p in the absence of BPI. Subnanomolar concentrations of proCAP18 blocked lipopolysaccharide-induced chemiluminescence of human leukocytes, showing a molar potency more than 100-fold greater than that of CAP18p ( approximately 20 nM) or BPI ( approximately 50 nM). Thus, while independent bactericidal activity of cathelicidins requires processing, other host-defense functions do not and are more potently expressed by the unprocessed protein than by the C-terminal peptide.

The solution structures of the human beta-defensins lead to a better understanding of the potent bactericidal activity of HBD3 against Staphylococcus aureus.

The three human beta-defensins, HBD1--3, are 33--47-residue, cationic antimicrobial proteins expressed by epithelial cells. All three proteins have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity, with HBD3 consistently being the most potent. Additionally, HBD3 has significant bactericidal activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus at physiological salt concentrations. We have compared the multimeric state of the three beta-defensins using NMR diffusion spectroscopy, dynamic and static light scattering, and analysis of the migration of the three beta-defensins on a native gel. All three techniques are in agreement, suggesting that HBD-3 is a dimer, while HBD-1 and HBD-2 are monomeric. Subsequently, the NMR solution structures of HBD1 and HBD3 were determined using standard homonuclear techniques and compared with the previously determined solution structure of HBD2. Both HBD1 and HBD3 form well defined structures with backbone root mean square deviations of 0.451 and 0.616 A, respectively. The tertiary structures of all three beta-defensins are similar, with a short helical segment preceding a three-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet. The surface charge density of each of the defensins is markedly different, with the surface of HBD3 significantly more basic. Analysis of the NMR data and structures led us to suggest that HBD3 forms a symmetrical dimer through strand beta2 of the beta-sheet. The increased anti-Staphylococcal activity of HBD3 may be explained by the capacity of the protein to form dimers in solution at low concentrations, an amphipathic dimer structure, and the increased positive surface charge compared with HBD1 and HBD2.

Impact of single-residue mutations on the structure and function of ovispirin/novispirin antimicrobial peptides.

We studied three model antibacterial peptides that resembled the N-terminal 18 amino acids of SMAP-29, an alpha-helical, antimicrobial peptide of sheep. Although the parent compound, ovispirin-1 (KNLRR IIRKI IHIIK KYG), was potently antimicrobial, it was also highly cytotoxic to human epithelial cells and hemolytic for human erythrocytes. Single residue substitutions to ovispirin-1 yielded two substantially less cytotoxic peptides (novispirins), with intact antimicrobial properties. One of these, novispirin G-10, differed from ovispirin-1 only by containing glycine at position 10, instead of isoleucine. The other, novispirin T-7, contained threonine instead of isoleucine at position 7. We determined the three-dimensional solution structures of all three peptides by circular dichroism spectroscopy and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Although all retained an amphipathic helical structure in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, they manifested subtle fine-structural changes that evidently impacted their activities greatly. These findings show that simple structural modifications can 'fine-tune' an antimicrobial peptide to minimize unwanted cytotoxicity while retaining its desired activity.

Activity of novispirin G10 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro and in infected burns.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant microbes has serious implications for managing infection and sepsis and has stimulated efforts to develop alternative treatments, such as antimicrobial peptides. The objective of this study was to test a designer peptide, novispirin G10, against multidrug-resistant microorganisms. By two-stage radial diffusion assays, its activity against such organisms compared favorably with that of standard antibiotics and other antimicrobial peptides. It killed bacteria very rapidly, was nonhemolytic, and was relatively noncytotoxic. The peptide induced an immediate, massive efflux of potassium from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, suggesting that it altered the permeability of its inner membrane. The presence of human serum reduced but did not eliminate its activity. We tested the in vivo activity of novispirin G10 in rats with an infected, partial-thickness burn that covered 20% of their total body surface area. The burned area was seeded with 10(6) CFU of a Silvadene-resistant P. aeruginosa strain, and 24 h later a single treatment with 0, 1, 3, or 6 mg of synthetic novispirin G10 (n = 16 at each concentration) per kg was given intradermally. Significant bacterial killing (P < 0.0001) was evident within 4 h in each peptide group compared to controls receiving vehicle. Antimicrobial peptides such as novispirin G10 may provide a useful alternative or adjunct to standard antibiotic agents in treating burns or other wound infections.

SMAP-29 has two LPS-binding sites and a central hinge.

The CD spectra of SMAP-29, an antimicrobial peptide from sheep, showed disordered structure in aqueous buffers, and significant helicity in membrane-like environments, including SDS micelles, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) dispersions, and trifluoroethanol buffer systems. A structure determined by NMR in 40% perdeuterated trifluoroethanol indicated that residues 8-17 were helical, residues 18-19 formed a hinge, and residues 20-28 formed an ordered, hydrophobic segment. SMAP-29 was flexible in 40% trifluoroethanol, forming two sets of conformers that differed in the relative orientation of the N-terminal domain. We used a chromogenic Limulus assay to determine the EC50 of the peptide (the concentration that bound 50% of the added LPS). Studies with full-length and truncated SMAP-29 molecules revealed that each end of the holopeptide contained an LPS-binding domain. The higher affinity LPS-binding domain was situated in the flexible N-terminal portion. LPS binding to full-length SMAP-29 showed positive cooperativity, so the EC50 of the peptide (2.6 microm) was considerably lower than that of the individual LPS-binding domains. LPS-binding studies with a mixture of truncated peptides revealed that this cooperativity was primarily intramolecular (i.e. involving the N- and C-terminal LPS-binding sites of the same peptide molecule). CAP-18[106 -142], an antimicrobial cathelicidin peptide of rabbits, resembled SMAP-29 in that it contained N- and C-terminal LPS-binding domains, had an EC50 of 2.5 microm, and bound LPS with positive cooperativity. We conclude that the presence of multiple binding sites that function cooperatively allow peptides such as SMAP-29 and CAP-18 to bind LPS with high affinity.