Small-molecule cationic amphiphiles (CAms) were designed to combat the rapid rise in drug-resistant bacteria. CAms were designed to target and compromise the structural integrity of bacteria membranes, leading to cell rupture and death. Discrete structural features of CAms were varied, and structure-activity relationship studies were performed to guide the rational design of potent antimicrobials with desirable selectivity and cytocompatibility profiles. In particular, the effects of cationic conformational flexibility, hydrophobic domain flexibility, and hydrophobic domain architecture were evaluated. Their influence on antimicrobial efficacy in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was determined, and their safety profiles were established by assessing their impact on mammalian cells. All CAms have a potent activity against bacteria, and hydrophobic domain rigidity and branched architecture contribute to specificity. The insights gained from this project will aid in the optimization of CAm structures.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b00110 | DOI Listing |
J Virol
January 2025
Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Unlabelled: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections continue to plague infants, young children, and older individuals worldwide. Since there is no specific treatment for RSV, characterizing the interactions between RSV and host factors remains crucial for the eventual development of robust therapeutic interventions. In our previous study, guanylate binding protein 5 (GBP5) was shown to promote excessive RSV-small hydrophobic (RSV-SH) protein secretion by microvesicles and inhibited viral replication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochemistry
January 2025
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States.
In the wake of the pandemic, peptidyl protease inhibitors with Pro-based rigid Leu mimetics at the P position have emerged as potent drug candidates against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. This success is intuitively attributed to the enhanced hydrophobic interactions and rigidity of Pro-based rigid Leu mimetics in the literature. However, the tertiary amide of proline P derivatives, which hinders the formation of a critical hydrogen bond with the enzyme active site, and the constrained PP conformation, which contradicts the protease preferred β-strand conformation, represent two overlooked disadvantages associated with these inhibitors over traditional inhibitors and, theoretically, should adversely affect their potency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRSC Chem Biol
January 2025
School of Chemistry, Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow 11 Chapel Lane Glasgow G11 6EW UK
Peptide stapling is an effective strategy to stabilise α-helical peptides, enhancing their bioactive conformation and improving physiochemical properties. In this study, we apply our novel diyne-girder stapling approach to the MDM2/MDMX α-helical binding region of the p53 transactivation domain. By incorporation of an unnatural amino acid to create an optimal , + 7 bridge length, we developed a highly α-helical stapled peptide, 4, confirmed circular dichroism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiophys Rev
December 2024
Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, 201313 Noida, India.
Amyloid fibrils, historically stigmatized due to their association with diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are now recognized as a distinct class of functional proteins with extraordinary potential. These highly ordered, cross-β-sheet protein aggregates are found across all domains of life, playing crucial physiological roles. In bacteria, functional amyloids like curli fibers are essential for surface adhesion, biofilm formation, and viral DNA packaging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
Sevenless, the Drosophila homologue of ROS1 (University of Rochester Sarcoma) (herein, dROS1) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) essential for the differentiation of Drosophila R7 photoreceptor cells. Activation of dROS1 is mediated by binding to the extracellular region (ECR) of the GPCR (G protein coupled receptor) BOSS (Bride Of Sevenless) on adjacent cells. Activation of dROS1 by BOSS leads to subsequent downstream signaling pathways including SOS (Son of Sevenless).
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