Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a key role in the defence mechanism of living organisms against microbial pathogens, displaying both bactericidal and immunomodulatory properties. They are considered as a promising alternative to the conventional antibiotics towards which bacteria are becoming highly resistant. Recently, a derivative of the frog skin AMP esculentin-1a, esculentin-1a(1-21)NH2 [Esc(1-21)], showed a strong and fast membranolytic activity against Gram-negative bacteria but with a lower efficacy against Gram-positive ones. Here, with the aim to increase the α-helicity of Esc(1-21) and the expected potency against Gram-positive bacteria, we designed an analog bearing three α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues at positions 1, 10, and 18 of its primary structure. We demonstrated that the incorporation of Aib residues: (1) promoted the α-helix conformation of Esc(1-21), as confirmed by circular dichroism and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies; (2) was sufficient to make this analog more active than the parent peptide against several Gram-positive bacterial strains without affecting its activity against Gram-negative bacteria; and (3) resulted to be devoid of toxic effect toward epithelial cells at the active antimicrobial concentrations. These results suggest that replacement of L-amino acids with Aib residues has beneficial effects on the structure and properties of the membrane-active peptide Esc(1-21), making it a better candidate for the design and development of selective drugs against Gram-positive bacteria.

Effects of aib residues insertion on the structural–functional properties of the frog skin-derived peptide esculentin-1a(1–21)NH2 / Biondi, Barbara; Casciaro, Bruno; DI GRAZIA, Antonio; Cappiello, Floriana; Luca, Vincenzo; Crisma, Marco; Mangoni, Maria Luisa. - In: AMINO ACIDS. - ISSN 0939-4451. - STAMPA. - 49:1(2017), pp. 139-150. [10.1007/s00726-016-2341-x]

Effects of aib residues insertion on the structural–functional properties of the frog skin-derived peptide esculentin-1a(1–21)NH2

CASCIARO, BRUNO;DI GRAZIA, ANTONIO;CAPPIELLO, FLORIANA;LUCA, VINCENZO;MANGONI, Maria Luisa
2017

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a key role in the defence mechanism of living organisms against microbial pathogens, displaying both bactericidal and immunomodulatory properties. They are considered as a promising alternative to the conventional antibiotics towards which bacteria are becoming highly resistant. Recently, a derivative of the frog skin AMP esculentin-1a, esculentin-1a(1-21)NH2 [Esc(1-21)], showed a strong and fast membranolytic activity against Gram-negative bacteria but with a lower efficacy against Gram-positive ones. Here, with the aim to increase the α-helicity of Esc(1-21) and the expected potency against Gram-positive bacteria, we designed an analog bearing three α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues at positions 1, 10, and 18 of its primary structure. We demonstrated that the incorporation of Aib residues: (1) promoted the α-helix conformation of Esc(1-21), as confirmed by circular dichroism and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies; (2) was sufficient to make this analog more active than the parent peptide against several Gram-positive bacterial strains without affecting its activity against Gram-negative bacteria; and (3) resulted to be devoid of toxic effect toward epithelial cells at the active antimicrobial concentrations. These results suggest that replacement of L-amino acids with Aib residues has beneficial effects on the structure and properties of the membrane-active peptide Esc(1-21), making it a better candidate for the design and development of selective drugs against Gram-positive bacteria.
2017
antimicrobial peptides; gram-positive bacteria; nmr; α-aminoisobutyric acid; biochemistry; clinical biochemistry; organic chemistry
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Effects of aib residues insertion on the structural–functional properties of the frog skin-derived peptide esculentin-1a(1–21)NH2 / Biondi, Barbara; Casciaro, Bruno; DI GRAZIA, Antonio; Cappiello, Floriana; Luca, Vincenzo; Crisma, Marco; Mangoni, Maria Luisa. - In: AMINO ACIDS. - ISSN 0939-4451. - STAMPA. - 49:1(2017), pp. 139-150. [10.1007/s00726-016-2341-x]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/931323
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