NEW SYNTHETIC BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING BIOACTIVE EFFECT

Abstract: A new class of broad spectrum bioactive polypeptides termed ''Magainin'' have been described. These peptides have a molecular weight of about 2500 or less, are highly water soluble, amphiphilic and non-hemolytic. A new method of producing antimicrobial effect by contacting a subject susceptible to microbial invasion or contamination with XPF, PGLa, a Magainin has also been.

Description: NEW SYNTHETIC BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING BIOACTIVE EFFECT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to bioactive compounds and a new method of producing bioactive effect. More particularly, the present invention is related to a new class of synthetic polypeptides, designated herein "Magainins", which have a broad, range of bioactive properties. The new method of producing bioactive effect comprises, contacting a subject susceptible to microbial invasion or contamination with antimicrobial amount of Magainins, XPF or PGLa polypeptides. Prior Art Although "Magainin" family of compounds having the properties as described herein have never heretofore been discovered or known, XPF and PGLa polypeptides have been described in the literature and are charaterized by the following amino acid sequence: PGLa: GMASKAGAIAGKIAKVALKAL (NH 2 ) XPF: G ASKIGQTLGKIAKVGLKELIQPK A review of XPF and PGLa can be found in Hoffman, et al. EMBO J. , 2:711-714 (1983); Andreu, et al-. , ^ Biocheπy 149:531-535 (1985); Gibson, et al., J. Biol. Chem. , 261:5341-5349 (1986); and Giovannini, et al., Biochem. J., 243:113-120 (1987). It should be noted that no function or useful property of these peptides has been identified in the literature. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novel family of synthetic compounds, termed "Magainins." It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel class of antimicrobial compounds capable of inhibiting the growth or proliferation of such organisms as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi, virus, protozoan species and the like. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new use of a known compound. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling, preventing or eradicating microbial growth or proliferation by contacting the microbes with antimicrobial amount of XPF or PGLa polypeptides. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of producing bioactive effect employing XPF and PGLa in bioactive amounts. Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The above and various other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by Magainins which are defined as a class of substantially pure, homogeneous polypeptides composed exclusively of about 25 amino acids, having a molecular weight of about 2500 or less, being water soluble at a concentration of greater than 5mg per ml at neutral pH or in an aqueous solution of physiologic ionic strength, being amphiphilic, surfce-seeking and having a broad spectrum of properties at physiologic ionic strength and pH. The Magainins are distinguishable from all other peptides reported in the literature at least with respect to their amino acid sequence. By computer search no analogous peptide with significant homology was found in the NIH protein and nucleic acid Data Banks (GenBank, 1986 Edition). Furthermore, the Magainins cannot be generated through simple substitutions of peptides of other classes with similar properties, such as cecropin, xenopsin, bombesin, mellitin and the like. Hence, Magainins represent a unique family of chemical substances, clearly defined at least in part by their unique amino acid sequence. Table I shows the amino acid sequence (single letter code) of certain Magainin polypeptides of the present invention. TABLE I Primary Sequence of Magainin Polypeptides Magainin I: (NH2)GIGKFLHSAGKFGKAFVGEIMKS(OH) Magainin II: (NH2)GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(0H) Magainin III: (NH 2 )GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMN(OH) Certain other objects of the present invention are achieved by a method of treating or controlling microbial growth, comprising administering to a host susceptible to microbial infection, or contacting the microbes directly or systemically, with antimicrobial amount of a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of XPF, PGLa and a combination thereof to prevent or eradicate microbial growth. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials -similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications mentioned hereunder are incorporated herein by reference. The term "bioactive" as used herein means having biological effect such as illustrated herein infra. The term "antibiotic" as used herein means that the polypeptides of the present invention produce effects adverse to the normal biological functions of the cell, tissue or organism including death or destruction and prevention of the growth or proliferation of the biological system. The term "antimicrobial" as used herein means that the polypeptides of the present invention inhibit, prevent or destroy the growth or proliferation of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, virus and the like. The term "substantially pure" as used herein means as pure as it is possible to obtain by using the methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Of course, having described the amino acid sequence of the Magainins, these polypeptides can be routinely synthesized in substantially pure form by standard techniques well known in the art, such as by commercially available peptide synthesizers, and the like. Such standard techniques of polypeptide synthesis can be found described in such publications as Merrifield, J. Chem. Soc, 8_5:2149-2154 (1963); Hunkapillar, et al., Nature, 310:105-111 (1984). It is noted, however, that the amino acid sequences of Magainins listed in Table I show only essential portions required for antibiotic activity. In otherwords, the polypeptides are not limited to the sequences shown in Table I, but must have, at least in part or in whole the amino acid -sequence shown in Tables I and II. Of course, various analogs and derivatives of Magainins can be easily predicted, generated and/or prepared by such standard and common methods as NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), computer modeling and the like and all such analogs or derivatives which are equivalent in structure and function to the Magainins as defined herein are encompassed within the scope of the disclosure contained herein. Some derivatives of Magainin II and their antimicrobial activities, for instance, are shown in Table II. It is clear from the results presented in Table II that the Magainins could be manipulated in various ways, for example, adding a carboxyl-terminal amide, progressively made shorter at the amino terminus, substituted with different amino acid residues at different positions of the molecule and the like so long as they retain or augment antimicrobial potency and/or other biological properties. Table III shows the antimicrobial spectrum of the synthetic Magainin peptides of the present invention. TABLE II Antimicrobial Activity of Truncated Synthetic Derivatives of Magainin II and Other Peptides Derivative (Single Letter Code) Zone of Inhibition on Lawn of E. coli Y1088 Generated by 50ug of the Peptide (mm) Magainin 11(a) (NH 2 )IGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) 10 Magainin 11(b) (NH 2 )GKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGΞIMNS(OH) 10 Magainin 11(c) (NH 2 )KFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) 10 Magainin 11(d) (NH 2 )FLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(0H) 2 Magainin 11(e) (NH 2 )LHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) 1 Magainin 11(f) (NH 2 )HSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(0H) 0 Magainin 11(g) (NH 2 )GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(NH 2 ) 15 Magainin 11(h) (NK 2 )GIGKYLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(NH ) 7 PGLa 10 XPF (NH 2 ) 15 TABLE III Antimicrobial Spectrum of Synthetic Magainin Peptides Qrganism(ATCC) Magainin I Magainin II Magainin III (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (ug/ml) Eschericia coli D31 1-20 1-10 1-10 Acinetobacter caloaceticus(19606) 7-35 1-7 7-35 Shigella sonnei (25931) 7-35 1-7 7-35 Enterobacter sonnei (23355) 7-35 1-7 7-35 Eschericia coli (25922) 7-35 1-7 7-35 Streptococcus pyogenes (19615) 7-35 1-7 7-35 Shigella flexneri (12022) 35-70 7-35 7-35 Citrobacter freundii (8090) >100 7-35 7-35 Enterobacter aerogenes (13048) >100 7-35 >100 Klebisiella pneumonia (13883) >100 7-35 >100 Staphyloccus epidermidis (1228) >100 7-35 35-70 TABLE III: (Continued) Antimicrobial Spectrum of Synthetic Mag • ainin Peptides Organism(ATCC) Magainin I Magainin II Magainin III (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (μg/ml) Streptococcus faecalis (19433) >100 35-70 >100 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (27853) >100 35-70 35-70 Salmonella typhimurium (14028) >100 35-70 35-70 Staphylococcus aureus (25923) >100 35-70 >100 Candida albicans (14053) >100 35-70 >100 Proteus vulgaris (13315) >100 >100 >100 Serratia marcescens (8100) >100 >100 >100 Table III also lists the range of minimal inhibitory concentrations for various organisms assayed in trypticase soy broth. These determinations were made following standard techniques well known in the art and described in such publications as, DIFCO Manual,10th edition, 1984, pages 78-80. Table IV lists the approximate concentration of Magainins which induces physical lysis of several representative protozoan species. These determinations were made by visual assessment of the treated organisms by light microscopy. Of course, the optimal effective antimicrobial concentration of a particular Magainin can be easily determined in a routine manner without undue expermentation by techniques well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. It is pointed that the addition of a carboxyl-terminal amide to Magainin II results in about a 5-fold increase in potency of the peptide in several systems when compared to Magainin II. This increase in activity can be seen against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and as shown in Table V, against tumor cells. This simple modification illustrates one of several ways of modifying the polypeptides of the present invention. It is clear from the results presented herein supra that the Magainin polypeptides of the present invention have a broad range of potent biological activity including antimicrobial potency. Hence, it is apparent that the Magainins of the. present invention allow a method of treating or-'* controlling microbial infection caused by those organisms which are sensitive to Magainin. Such treatment comprises administering to a host or tissue susceptible to or afflicted with microbial infection of an antimicrobial amount of Magainin. Clearly, due to their antibiotic properties, the Magainins of the present invention can also be used as preservatives or sterilants of materials susceptible to microbial contamination. TABLE IV Antiprotozoan Activity of Synthetic Magainin Peptides Organism Magainin I Magainin II Magainin III (Concentration required for osmotic lysis (μg/ml)) Parameσiurα caudatum 5 Amoeba proteus 5 Euglena gracilis 5 TABLE V Comparison of Potencies of Magainin II and Magainin 11(g) MIC(μg/ml) Organism Magainin II Magainin 11(g) E, coli D-31 10 Pseudomonas aeruginosa 70 15 Saccaromyces cerviscae 50 10 Acanthomeba cstellani 15 The substitution of phenylalanine at residue 5 by tyrosine results in a slight decrease in MIC of the derivative compared to Magainin II; however, a compensatory advantage of the tyrosine residue allows coupling of radioactive moieties such as 125 I and the like with the polypeptide molecule so that such radioactive derivatives can be employed in standard radio-immunoassay procedures to determine Magainin levels. Anti-Protozoan Activity: Magainin 11(g) has also been found to be active against the Malarial parasite, Plasmodium gallinaceum. Observations of activity were conducted by direct light microscopy. A sample of female and male zygotic forms of the chicken malarial parasite were suspended in phosphate buffered saline. Magainin 11(g) was added to each at 100 ug/ml. Within seconds both forms underwent evident physical lysis. A control consisting of the addition of Magainin 11(f) had no visible effect. The susceptibility of this strain of malaria suggests that the Magainins may be utilized as an anti-malarial agent in human Plasmodium infections. It may be noted that although at optimum anti-microbial concentrations, Magainins are not cytotoxic, however, at higher concentrations Magainins exhibit cytotoxic activity. This activity is considered a significant attribute of the Magainin peptides in that it permits their use in the killing of animal cells. The activity of these peptides has been tested against a panel of a variety of cells listed in Table VI. As seen, Magainin 11(g) immediately permeates a broad spectrum of cell type. The most resistant appears to be the epthelial cell from the oral mucosa. The most sensitive is a transformed monkey kidney cell. These results indicate the utility of Magainins as therapeutic cytotoxic agents. This includes anti-tumor activity, in vivo cytolysis or growth inhibition of malignant cells, such as in leukemias and selective reduction in specific cell populations (e.g., removal of lymphocytes from blood). Cells were suspended in standard minimal Eagles medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. VERO cells and KB cells were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. Human diploid fibroblasts were propagated from a primary dermal biopsy. Human lymphocytes were collected from a buffy coat preparation by centrifugation in ficoll-hyapaque medium. Human buccal epithelium was obtained by scraping the oral mucosa with a glass cover-slip and resuspending the cellular scraping in MEM. Cytotoxicity was determined by loss of Trypan Blue exclusion, following addition of dye to the medium. Cytotoxicity was assessed 30 minutes after addition of the peptide. Concentration noted represents the concentration of peptide resulting in 50% toxcicity as determined visually by light microscopic examination of the treated cells. TABLE VI Cytotoxic Activity of Magainin(g) Cell Concentration (jig/ml ) Vero Cells 25 Peripheral Human Lymphocytes 75 Human KB Cells 125 Human Diploid Fibroblasts 250 Human Buccal Epithelial Cells 500 Spermicidal Activity of Magainin Peptides The activity of Magainin 11(g) was determined against human sperm since the peptides were shown to exhibit cytotoxic activity against a variety of human cells. Magainin 11(g) was added in various concentrations to a suspension of human sperπi in phosphate buffered saline. Motility was assayed by visual inspection under a light microscope. Observations were conducted at room temperature (about 22°-25°C). The approximate number of motile sperm observed in 20 independent fields was noted as a function of concentration. Magainin 11(g) inhibits sperm motility by 50% at 35 ug/ml and by 100% at 75 ug/ml. These results indicate that Magainin 11(g) and other derivatives are useful as sper icide and hence, as contraceptive agent. The association of anti-microbial activity of the Magainin peptides along with its spermicidal activity indicates that this family of peptides represents ideal spermicidal agents. Anti-Viral Activity of Magainin Peptides The anti-viral activity of Magainin was tested against the presumptive AIDS virus, HTLV III in vitro and has been found in three repeated studies to exhibit anti-viral activity. HTLV III was obtained from culture media from the producing cell line A.3101. The media was diluted with MEM containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) to a viral concentration of about 10^ pfu/ml. Magainin 11(g) was added to the vira4 innoculum (1 ml) to a concentration of 200 ug/ml and incubated at 37°C for 30 min. The viral innoculum was then added to a well containing 10 3 tester cells (cell line, SUPT1) and 1 ml of MEM with 10% FCS. Viral activity was assessed by formation of syncytia and cell death in the test cell culture as compared with cell cultures unexposed to Magainin peptides. After an incubation period of 2 weeks Magainin-exposed cultures appeared identical to cultures not exposed to virus, while untreated cultures were fully destroyed. Assay of reverse transcriptase activity in the . culture fluids of untreated and treated wells revealed that Magainin treated samples exhibited no greater reverse transcriptase activity than uninfected cells, corroborating the visual assessment of cellular protection. These studies demonstrate that the Magainin peptides have the potential to reduce the infectivity of the AIDS virus, HTLV III. The use of the Magainin peptides as a sterilant against this virus or as a chemotherapeutic agent for treating AIDS is thus indicated. The activity of the Magainin peptides against HTLV ill in vitro suggests that these peptides will exhibit anti-viral activity against other viral agents. The property of the Magainin peptides to disrupt certain membrane structures leads to the obvious application of these peptides against other membrane enclosed viruses, of which HTLV III is only a representative organism. Other candidates include herpes viruses, hepatitis B virus, retroviruses such as feline leukemia virus and HTLV I, and influenza virus. Of course, pharmaceutical compositions comprising Magainin polypeptides of the present invention as an active ingredient in an amount sufficient to produce antibiotic effect in susceptible host or tissue and a pharmaceutically acceptable, non-toxic sterile carrier can be easily prepared based on the data provided herein. 1 Such carriers could be fillers, non-toxic buffers, 2 physiological saline solution and the like. The 3 preparation can be- used topically or systemically and may 4 be in any suitable form such as liquid, solid or 5 semi-solid, which include injectable solutions, tablets, 6 ointments, lotions, pastes, capsules and the like. Of 7 course, the Magainins may also be adminstered in 8 combination with other adjuvants, protease inhibitors, or 9 compatible drugs where such combination is seen desirable 10 or advantageous in controlling the infection caused by 11 harmful microorganisms including protozoa, viruses and 12 the like. 13 Table VII shows the minimal inhibitory 14 concentrations of XPF, PGLa and Magainin(g) against 15 different bacteria and fungi. As can be appreciated, the 1.6 relative potentcies of each of the peptides differs 17 somewhat with respect to a particular organism, but the 18 activity is quite similar. 19 Table VIII lists the minimal effective 20 concentrations of XPF, PGLa and Magainin(g) necessary to 21 physically disrupt several different species of 22 protozoa. In each case, the peptide induces osmotic 23 swelling indicating a common mechanism. TABLE VII Spectrum of Antimicrobial Activity of Synthetic Peptides ORGANISM MINIMAL INHIBITORY CONCENTRATION (μg/ml) Magainin 11(g) PGLa XPF E. coli (25922) 10-50 10-50 10-50 P. aeruginosa (27883) 50-100 200-500 50-100 S. aureus (250230 500 50-100 100-200 S. pyogenes (19615) 10-50 10 10-50 S. cerviscae ( ) 50-100 100-200 100-200 C. albicans (14053) 200-500 100-200 200-500 10^ Organisms were inoculated from late-log phase cultures into 0.5 ml of TSB broth containing synthetic peptide at concentrations of 10,50, 100, 200 and 500 μg/ml. Cultures were incubated at either 37°C (bacteria) or 30°C (fungi) for 24 hours. Concentrations of peptide at which no visible growth of innoculum occurred is listed. TABLE VIII Sensitivity of Protozoa to Synthetic Peptides ORGANISM MINIMAL DISRUPTIVE CONCENTRATION (μg/ml) Magainin II PGLa XPF Paramecium caudatum 10 5 10 Tetrahymena pyriformis 20 20 20 Acanthameoba castellani 2 2 2 Protozoa (about 10^) were suspended into 200 -μl of 1% trypticase soy broth on a glass depression slide. Actively growing cultures of P. caudatum and T. pyrifomis were obtained from Nasco (Wise) and A. castellani from B Bowers (NHLBI). Peptides were added to various concentrations and the organism visually assessed by light microscopy within 15 minutes of exposure. The concentrations listed represent the minimal peptide concentration at which physical disruption of all protozoa occurred. It is clear from the results presented herein that XPF and PGLa are potent antimicrobial agents. It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A synthetic, substantially pure Magainin having at least in part or in whole the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (NH 2 )GIGKFLHSAGKFGKAFVGEIMKS(OH), (NH 2 )GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) , (NH 2 )GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMN(OH), (NH 2 )IGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) , (NH 2 )GKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) , (NH 2 )KFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) , (NH 2 )FLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH), (NH 2 )LHSAKKFGKAFVGEI-MNS(OH) , (NH 2 )GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(NH 2 ) r and (NH )GIGKYLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(NH 2 ) . 2. The Magainin of Claim being (NH 2 )GIGKFLHSAGKFGKAFVGEIMKS(OH) . 3. The Magainin of Claim being (NH 2 )GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) . 4. The Magainin of Claim being (NH 2 )GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMN(OH) . 5. The Magainin of Claim 1 being (NH )IGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) . - 21 - 6. The Magainin of Claim 1 being (NH 2 )GKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) . 7. The Magainin of Claim 1 being (NH 2 )KFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) . 8. The Magainin of Claim 1 being (NH 2 )FLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) . 9. The Magainin of Claim 1 being (NH 2 )LHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(OH) . 10. The Magainin of Claim 1 being (NH )GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(NH ) . 11. The Magainin of Claim 1 being (NH 2 )GIGKYLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS(NH 2 ) . 12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the Magainin of Claim 1 in an amount sufficient to produce bioactive or antimicrobial effect and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 13. A method of treating or controlling microbial infection comprising administering to a host, tissue or material susceptible to or afflicted with microbial infection an antimicrobial amount of a polypeptide selected from • the group consisting of XPF, PGLa, Magainin, and a combination thereof. 14. The method of Claim 13, wherein said polypeptide is XPF. 15. The method of Claim 13, wherein said polypeptide is PGLa. 16. The method of Claim 13, wherein said polypeptide is a Magainin.

Inventors: ZASLOFF MICHAEL ALAN, ZASLOFF, MICHAEL, ALAN
Applicants: US HEALTH, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY TH
Application year: 1988
Main classification: C07K7
IPC codes: A61K38, A61P31, C07K7, C07K14