Influence on the plasma membrane of Candida albicans by HP (2-9)-magainin 2 (1-12) hybrid peptide.
A 20-residue hybrid peptide (HP (2-9)-MA (1-12): HP-MA), incorporating 2-9 residues of Helicobacter pyroli ribosomal protein L1 (HP) and 1-12 residues of magainin 2 (MA), has more potent antibacterial activity than parent peptide HP (2-20) and magainin 2. In this study, the antifungal activity and its mechanism of HP-MA were investigated. HP-MA displayed a strong antifungal activity in an energy-dependent manner. To elucidate the antifungal mechanism(s) of HP-MA, FACScan analysis and the change in membrane dynamics using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) as a membrane probe of Candida albicans were examined. The results indicated that the HP-MA exerts its antifungal effect by acting on the plasma membrane. Furthermore, the peptide induced remarkable morphological change when tested for membrane disrupting activity using liposomes (PC/Cholesterol; 10:1, w/w). In C. albicans, dimorphism plays a crucial role in pathogenesis but HP-MA could disrupt the mycelial forms and exert its antifungal effect on the blastoconidia in 20% fetal bovine serum.
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000502:physiology; D054806:Magainins; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019810:Sodium Azide / Q000494:pharmacology; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054806:Magainins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C028546:ribosomal protein L1; C053301:magainin 2 peptide, Xenopus; D019810:Sodium Azide