title: Analysis of the antimicrobial activities of a chemokine-derived peptide (CDAP-4) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: Chemokines are key molecules involved in the control of leukocyte trafficking. Recently, a novel function as antimicrobial proteins has been described. CCL13 is the only member of the MCP chemokine subfamily displaying antimicrobial activity. To determine the key residues involved in its antimicrobial activity, CCL13 derived peptides were synthesized and tested against several bacterial strains, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One of these peptides, corresponding to the C-terminal region of CCL13 (CDAP-4) displayed good antimicrobial activity. Electron microscopy studies revealed remarkable morphological changes after CDAP-4 treatment. By computer modeling, CDAP-4 in alpha helical configuration generated a positive electrostatic potential that extended beyond the surface of the molecule. This feature is similar to other antimicrobial peptides. Altogether, these findings indicate that the antimicrobial activity was displayed by CCL13 resides to some extent at the C-terminal region. Furthermore, CDAP-4 could be considered a good antimicrobial candidate with a potential use against pathogens including P. aeruginosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Escolar s/n, México, DF, CP 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martínez-Becerra
authors.forename: Daniel-Adriano
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Lenin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Ramírez
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Hernández
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: López-Vidal
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soldevila
authors.forename: Eduardo A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: García-Zepeda
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C515429:CCL3 protein, human; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D010455:Peptides