Antimicrobial action of epsilon-poly-L-lysine.
The antimicrobial spectrum of epsilon-poly-L-lysine (n = 25-30, epsilon-PL) was investigated by comparison with alpha-poly-L-lysine (n = 50, alpha-PL). epsilon-PL showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria at concentrations of 1-8 micrograms/ml. alpha-PL was less active than epsilon-PL. A chain length of at least 10 L-lysine monomers was found to be optimum for antimicrobial activity. Chemical modification of the amino groups of epsilon-PL lowered its antibacterial activity. Studies on the mode of action of epsilon-PL suggest that absorption of epsilon-PL to the bacterial cell surface plays an important role in its antibacterial activity.
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D011107:Polylysine