Antibacterial Peptide Nucleic Acid-Antimicrobial Peptide (PNA-AMP) Conjugates: Antisense Targeting of Fatty Acid Biosynthesis.

Antisense peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers constitute a novel class of potential antibiotics that inhibit bacterial growth via specific knockdown of essential gene expression. However, discovery of efficient, nontoxic delivery vehicles for such PNA oligomers has remained a challenge. In the present study we show that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with an intracellular mode of action can be efficient vehicles for bacterial delivery of an antibacterial PNA targeting the essential acpP gene. The results demonstrate that buforin 2-A (BF2-A), drosocin, oncocin 10, Pep-1-K, KLW-9,13-a, (P59→W59)-Tat48-60, BF-2A-RXR, and drosocin-RXR are capable of transporting PNA effectively into E. coli (MICs of 1-4 µM). Importantly, presence of the inner-membrane peptide transporter SbmA was not required for antibacterial activity of PNA-AMP conjugates containing Pep-1-K, KLW-9,13-a, or drosocin-RXR (MICs of 2-4 µM).

Influence of ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein) haplotypes on nortriptyline pharmacokinetics and nortriptyline-induced postural hypotension in healthy volunteers.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT: A single nucleotide polymorphism in ABCB1, which encodes P-glycoprotein, has retrospectively been associated with symptoms of nortriptyline-induced postural hypotension in depressed patients. This finding needs to be replicated in independent studies before recommendations regarding pharmacogenetic testing can be made. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: In a prospective study of healthy volunteers homozygous for ABCB1 (1236-2677-3435, TTT/TTT or CGC/CGC), a single dose of nortriptyline was administered, plasma exposure was determined and blood pressure and heart rate were monitored during posture change. No differences between ABCB1 haplotype groups were found in plasma exposure of nortriptyline and its active metabolites, E- and Z-10-hydroxynortriptyline. The heart rate response to posture change was increased with nortriptyline, whereas there was no difference in blood pressure response. However, no differences between haplotype groups were observed except that the pre dose heart rate response to standing was greater in the TTT than CGC homozygotes. The association between ABCB1 polymorphisms and nortriptyline-induced postural hypotension found in a previous study could not be confirmed. The results raise the possibility of a predisposition in heart rate response in the TTT homozygotes rather than an effect of nortriptyline. AIMS To investigate the influence of ABCB1 (1236-2677-3435) polymorphisms on nortriptyline pharmacokinetics and nortriptyline-induced postural hypotension in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Genetic screening of 67 healthy volunteers identified eight CGC homozygotes and nine TTT homozygotes of ABCB1 (1236-2677-3435), who were administered a single dose of nortriptyline 25 mg. Plasma exposure of nortriptyline and its active metabolites, E- and Z-10-hydroxynortriptyline, was determined over 72 h. Heart rate and blood pressure responses to posture change (active standing and passive head-up tilt) were measured continuously using finger plethysmography. RESULTS: There were no differences in plasma exposure between ABCB1 haplotype groups, as the geometric mean (95% CI) AUC(0,72 h) ratios were 0.98 (0.94, 1.03), 1.02 (0.96, 1.09) and 0.95 (0.80, 1.10) for nortriptyline, E- and Z-10-hydroxynortriptyline, respectively. The pre dose heart rate response to standing was greater in the TTT than CGC homozygotes (mean (95% CI) difference 7.4 (1.5, 13.4) beats min(-1) , P = 0.02). At t(max) at 8 h post dose, nortriptyline increased the heart rate response to posture change in all subjects with mean (95% CI) Δ heart rate values of 7.4 (3.6, 11.3) beats min(-1) on active standing (P = 0.0009) and 4.8 (2.0, 7.6) beats min(-1) on head-up tilt (P = 0.002), but no difference was observed between haplotype groups. There was no difference in blood pressure response to posture change in either group. CONCLUSION: The association between ABCB1 polymorphisms and nortriptyline-induced postural hypotension found in the previous study could not be confirmed. The results raise the possibility of a predisposition in heart rate response in the TTT homozygotes rather than an effect of nortriptyline.

Microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis of antisense acpP peptide nucleic acid-peptide conjugates active against colistin- and tigecycline-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae.

Recent discovery of potent antibacterial antisense PNA-peptide conjugates encouraged development of a fast and efficient synthesis protocol that facilitates structure-activity studies. The use of an Fmoc/Boc protection scheme for both PNA monomers and amino acid building blocks in combination with microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis proved to be a convenient procedure for continuous assembly of antisense PNA-peptide conjugates. A validated antisense PNA oligomer (CTCATACTCT; targeting mRNA of the acpP gene) was linked to N-terminally modified drosocin (i.e., RXR-PRPYSPRPTSHPRPIRV; X = aminohexanoic acid) or to a truncated Pip1 peptide (i.e., RXRRXR-IKILFQNRRMKWKK; X = aminohexanoic acid), and determination of the antibacterial effects of the resulting conjugates allowed assessment of the influence of different linkers as well as differences between the L- and D-forms of the peptides. The drosocin-derived compound without a linker moiety exhibited highest antibacterial activity against both wild-type Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (MICs in the range 2-4 µg/mL ∼ 0.3-0.7 µM), while analogues displaying an ethylene glycol (eg1) moiety or a polar maleimide linker also possessed activity toward wild-type K. pneumoniae (MICs of 4-8 µg/mL ∼ 0.6-1.3 µM). Against two colistin-resistant E. coli strains the linker-deficient compound proved most potent (with MICs in the range 2-4 µg/mL ∼ 0.3-0.7 µM). The truncated all-L Pip1 peptide had moderate inherent activity against E. coli, and this was unaltered or reduced upon conjugation to the antisense PNA oligomer. By contrast, this peptide was 8-fold less potent against K. pneumoniae, but in this case some PNA-peptide conjugates exhibited potent antisense activity (MICs of 2-8 µg/mL ∼ 0.3-1.2 µM). Most interestingly, the antibacterial activity of the D-form peptide itself was 2- to 16-fold higher than that of the L-form, even for the colistin- and tigecycline-resistant E. coli strains (MIC of 1-2 µg/mL ∼ 0.25-0.5 µM). Low activity was found for conjugates with a two-mismatch PNA sequence corroborating an antisense mode of action. Conjugates containing a D-form peptide were also significantly less active. In conclusion, we have designed and synthesized antisense PNA-drosocin conjugates with potent antibacterial activity against colistin- and tigecycline-resistant E. coli and K. pneumonia without concomitant hemolytic properties. In addition, a truncated D-form of Pip1 was identified as a peptide exhibiting potent activity against both wild-type and multidrug-resistant E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii (MICs within the range 1-4 µg/mL ∼ 0.25-1 µM) as well as toward wild-type Staphylococcus aureus (MIC of 2-4 µg/mL ∼ 0.5-1.0 µM).

Alpha-peptide/beta-peptoid chimeras.

[structure: see text] We describe the synthesis and characterization of the first generation of oligomers consisting of alternating repeats of alpha-amino acids and chiral N-alkyl-beta-alanine (beta-peptoid) residues. These chimeras are stable toward proteolysis, non-hemolytic, and possess antibacterial activity comparable to well-known antimicrobial agents. Moreover, the chimeras exhibit length-dependent, concentration-dependent, solvent-dependent, and ion-strength-dependent ellipticity, indicating the presence of a secondary structure in solution. Thus, alpha-peptide/beta-peptoid oligomers represent a promising novel peptidomimetic backbone construct for biologically active ligands.

Fast and sensitive LC-MS/MS assay for quantification of nortriptyline and its active metabolites E- and Z-10-hydroxynortriptyline in human plasma.

BACKGROUND: A fast and sensitive validated assay for nortriptyline, E-10-hydroxynortriptyline and Z-10-hydroxynortriptyline in plasma following a single oral dose of nortriptyline 25 mg was needed to support a clinical study. RESULTS: Plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation, separated on a C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid in an acetonitrile gradient over 6 min and detected by ESI in the positive mode and MS/MS. Mean recoveries of at least 90% were achieved. The LLOQ was 0.2 ng/ml for nortriptyline and 0.5 ng/ml for the metabolites. The standard curve was linear within LLOQ to 40 ng/ml (r(2) ≥ 0.997), precision was under 7.1% coefficient of variance (<16% at LLOQ) and accuracy was 92-114%. CONCLUSION: A fast and sensitive assay for nortriptyline, E- and Z-10-hydroxynortriptyline in plasma was developed and validated. It has been applied successfully to a clinical study.