title: Antibacterial activity of a synthetic peptide (PR-26) derived from PR-39, a proline-arginine-rich neutrophil antimicrobial peptide.
abstract: PR-39 is a proline-arginine-rich (PR) neutrophil antibacterial peptide originally identified and purified from the porcine small intestine. We report on the synthesis of a functional antibacterial domain of PR-39, the first 26 amino acid residues of the NH2 terminus. PR-26 was as potent as or more potent than PR-39 against enteric gram-negative bacteria. This truncated form of PR-39 potentiated neutrophil phagocytosis of Salmonella choleraesuis and decreased the level of S. typhimurium invasion into intestinal epithelial cells. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that these peptides did not lyse cells by pore-forming mechanisms; however, they potentiated the antibacterial capabilities of a pore-forming peptide, magainin A. In addition, PR-26 was not toxic to epithelial cells at concentrations several times greater than its bactericidal concentration. These data suggest that PR-39 and its functional domain, PR-26, may potentiate the host's defense capabilities against gram-negative infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chengappa
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sylte
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: McVey
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blecha
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001120:Arginine / Q000737:chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011392:Proline / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C103018:PR 26; D010455:Peptides; C072212:PR 39; D001120:Arginine; D011392:Proline