Repurposing a peptide toxin from wasp venom into antiinfectives with dual antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties.

Novel antibiotics are urgently needed to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens. Venoms represent previously untapped sources of novel drugs. Here we repurposed mastoparan-L, the toxic active principle derived from the venom of the wasp Vespula lewisii, into synthetic antimicrobials. We engineered within its N terminus a motif conserved among natural peptides with potent immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activities. The resulting peptide, mast-MO, adopted an α-helical structure as determined by NMR, exhibited increased antibacterial properties comparable to standard-of-care antibiotics both in vitro and in vivo, and potentiated the activity of different classes of antibiotics. Mechanism-of-action studies revealed that mast-MO targets bacteria by rapidly permeabilizing their outer membrane. In animal models, the peptide displayed direct antimicrobial activity, led to enhanced ability to attract leukocytes to the infection site, and was able to control inflammation. Permutation studies depleted the remaining toxicity of mast-MO toward human cells, yielding derivatives with antiinfective activity in animals. We demonstrate a rational design strategy for repurposing venoms into promising antimicrobials.

NMR structures in different membrane environments of three ocellatin peptides isolated from Leptodactylus labyrinthicus.

The peptides ocellatin-LB1, -LB2 and -F1 have previously been isolated from anurans of the Leptodactylus genus and the sequences are identical from residue 1-22, which correspond to ocellatin-LB1 sequence (GVVDILKGAAKDIAGHLASKVM-NH2), whereas ocellatin-LB2 carries an extra N and ocellatin-F1 extra NKL residues at their C-termini. These peptides showed different spectra of activities and biophysical investigations indicated a direct correlation between membrane-disruptive properties and antimicrobial activities, i.e. ocellatin-F1 > ocellatin-LB1 > ocellatin-LB2. To better characterize their membrane interactions, we report here the detailed three-dimensional NMR structures of these peptides in TFE-d2:H2O (60:40) and in the presence of zwitterionic DPC-d38 and anionic SDS-d25 micellar solutions. Although the three peptides showed significant helical contents in the three mimetic environments, structural differences were noticed. When the structures of the three peptides in the presence of DPC-d38 micelles are compared to each other, a more pronounced curvature is observed for ocellatin-F1 and the bent helix, with the concave face composed mostly of hydrophobic residues, is consistent with the micellar curvature and the amphipathic nature of the molecule. Interestingly, an almost linear helical segment was observed for ocellatin-F1 in the presence of SDS-d25 micelles and the conformational differences in the two micellar environments are possibly related to the presence of the extra Lys residue near the peptide C-terminus, which increases the affinity of ocellatin-F1 to anionic membranes in comparison with ocellatin-LB1 and -LB2, as proved by isothermal titration calorimetry. To our knowledge, this work reports for the first time the three-dimensional structures of ocellatin peptides.

Regiochemistry of cyclocondensation reactions in the synthesis of polyazaheterocycles.

The syntheses of several polyazaheterocycles are demonstrated. The cyclocondensation reactions between ß-enaminodiketones [CCl3C(O)C(=CNMe2)C(O)-CO2Et] and aromatic amidines resulted in glyoxalate-substituted pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinone, thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidinone and pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole. Pyrazinones and quinoxalinones were obtained through the reaction of these glyoxalates with ethylenediamine and 1,2-phenylenediamine derivatives. On the other hand, the reaction of glyoxalates with amidines did not lead to the formation of imidazolones, but rather N-acylated products were obtained. All the products were isolated in good yields. DFT-B3LYP calculations provided HOMO/LUMO coefficients, charge densities, and the stability energies of the intermediates, and from these data it was possible to explain the regiochemistry of the products obtained. Additionally, the data were a useful tool for elucidating the reaction mechanisms.

Sonochemical heating profile for solvents and ionic liquid doped solvents, and their application in the N-alkylation of pyrazoles.

The heating profile for 25 solvents was determined in ultrasonic probe equipment at amplitudes of 20%, 25%, and 30%. Each solvent was heated in accordance with its boiling point. The effect of vapor pressure, surface tension, and viscosity of the solvents in dissipated ultrasonic power (Up) was evaluated. Multiple regression analysis of these solvent properties and dissipated Up reveals that solvent viscosity is the property that most strongly affected dissipated Up. Experimentation involving acetonitrile doped with [BMIM][BF4] indicated faster heating than MeCN. Aprotic polar solvents such as DMSO, DMF, and MeCN were tested in the N-alkylation of pyrazoles under ultrasonic conditions. After 5min at 90°C, the reactants had been totally converted into product in these solvents. Solvents, with low dissipated Up (e.g., toluene) were tested. Conversions were lower compared to those of aprotic polar solvents. When the reactions were done in hexane, no conversion to product was observed. To check the effect of doping in solvents with low Up, [BMIM][BF4], DMSO, and DMF were selected. The conversions for toluene doped with [BMIM][BF4], DMSO, and DMF were 100%, 59%, and 25%, respectively. These conversions were greater than when done in just toluene (46%). Thus, [BMIM][BF4] was the best polar doping solvent, followed by DMSO. DMF was not considered to be a satisfactory doping solvent. No conversion was observed for reactions in the absence of base performed in DMSO, DMF, and MeCN doped with [BMIM][BF4].

Dethreading of Tetraalkylsuccinamide-Based [2]Rotaxanes for Preparing Benzylic Amide Macrocycles.

The dethreading of a series of succinamide-based [2]rotaxanes bearing benzylic amide macrocycles is reported herein. These transformations proceeded quantitatively either under flash vacuum pyrolysis, conventional heating, or microwave irradiation. Studying the size complementarity of the stoppers at the ends of the thread and the cavity of the macrocycle allowed us to set up the best substituents for implementing the extrusion of the thread from the interlocked precursors. A variety of (1)H NMR kinetic experiments were carried out in order to evaluate the rate constants of the dethreading process, the half-life times of the rotaxanes, and the influence of temperature and solvents on these processes. The use of dibutylamino groups as stoppers yielded the rotaxane precursor in a reasonable yield and allowed the quantitative deslipping of the rotaxane. The overall process, including the rotaxane formation and its further dethreading, has been exploited for preparing benzylic amide macrocycles enhancing, in most cases, the results of the classical (2 + 2) condensation and other reported stepwise syntheses. The kinetics of the dethreading process is fairly sensitive to the electronic effects of the substituents on the isophthalamide unit or to the electronic nature of the pyridine rings through a conformational equilibrium expanding or contracting the cavity of the interlocked precursor.