Study may lead to novel synthetic drugs to combat bacterial infections

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Jan 15 2021

Researchers at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and EMBL Hamburg have discovered remarkable molecular properties of an antimicrobial peptide from the skin of the Australian toadlet. The discovery could inspire the development of novel synthetic drugs to combat bacterial infections.

An antibacterial peptide that turns on and off

The researchers solved the 3D molecular structure of an antibacterial peptide named uperin 3.5, which is secreted on the skin of the Australian toadlet (Uperoleia mjobergii) as part of its immune system.

They found that the peptide self-assembles into a unique fibrous structure, which via a sophisticated structural adaptation mechanism can change its form in the presence of bacteria to protect the toadlet from infections.

This provides unique atomic-level evidence explaining a regulation mechanism of an antimicrobial peptide.

The antibacterial fibrils on the toadlet's skin have a structure that is reminiscent of amyloid fibrils, which are a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Although amyloid fibrils have been considered pathogenic for decades, it has recently been discovered that certain amyloid fibrils can benefit the organisms that produce them, from humans to microbes. For example, certain bacteria produce such fibrils to fight human immune cells.

The findings suggest that the antibacterial peptide secreted on the toadlet's skin self-assembles into a "dormant" configuration in the form of highly stable amyloid fibrils, which scientists describe as a cross-β conformation.

These fibrils serve as a reservoir of potential attacker molecules that can be activated when bacteria are present. Once the peptide encounters the bacterial membrane, it changes its molecular configuration to a less compact cross-α form and transforms into a deadly weapon.

This is a sophisticated protective mechanism of the toadlet, induced by the attacking bacteria themselves. This is a unique example of an evolutionary design of switchable supramolecular structures to control activity."

Meytal Landau, Study Lead Author and Structural Biologist, European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Potential for future medical applications

Antimicrobial peptides are found in all kingdoms of life and thus are hypothesized to be commonly used as weapons in nature, occasionally effective in killing not only bacteria but also cancer cells.

Moreover, the unique amyloid-like properties of the toadlet's antibacterial peptide, discovered in this study, shed light on the potential physiological properties of amyloid fibrils associated with neurodegenerative and systemic disorders.

The researchers hope that their discovery will lead to medical and technological applications, e.g. development of synthetic antimicrobial peptides that would be activated only in the presence of bacteria. Synthetic peptides of this kind could also serve as a stable coating for medical devices or implants, or even in industrial equipment that requires sterile conditions.

The study is a result of a collaboration between scientists at EMBL Hamburg and Technion, and groups in Israel and Spain. It is an example of EMBL's approach to life science research in its next scientific Programme Molecules to Ecosystems.

EMBL will integrate interdisciplinary approaches to understand the molecular basis of life in the context of environmental changes, and to provide the translational potential to support advances in human and planetary health.