Direct antimicrobial activities of PR-bombesin.
PR-bombesin is a bombesin-like peptide derived from the skin of the Chinese red belly toad, Bombina maxima. The 8-residue segment of N-terminal of RP-bombesin, comprising four prolines and three basic residues, is extensively different from other bombesin-like peptides. Since sequence of Pro-Arg-Pro generally plays an important role in the antimicrobial activity of proline-rich antimicrobial peptides, the componential feature of PR-bombesin indicates that it may have antimicrobial activity. In this paper, we presented the first evidence that bombesin-like peptides possess direct antimicrobial activities as some neuropeptides. It was determined by CD spectroscopy that PR-bombesin adopted a combination of random coil and beta-sheet structure, suggesting RP-bombesin is a new member of antimicrobial peptides having beta structure but without disulfide bonds. Current results also supported that PR-bombesin plays a direct defensive role besides its neuro-endocrological functions.
Li
Jianxu
J
Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.
Xu
Xueqing
X
Yu
Haining
H
Yang
Hailong
H
Huang
Zhongxian
Z
Lai
Ren
R
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001001:Anura; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001839:Bombesin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002942:Circular Dichroism / Q000379:methods; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011392:Proline / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011392:Proline; D001839:Bombesin