title: Pleurocidin-derived antifungal peptides with selective membrane-disruption effect.
abstract: Pleurocidin (Ple) is a peptide derived from the winter flounder. In our previous study, we reported the antifungal effect of Ple and its mode of action. To develop novel antifungal peptides useful as therapeutic agents, two analogs, with amino acid substitutions, were designed to decrease the net hydrophobicity by Arg (R) or Ser (S)-substitution at the hydrophobic face of Ple without changing the amphipathic structure. By substituting Ser, the hydrophobicity of the peptide (anal-S) was decreased, and by substituting Arg, though the hydrophobicity of the peptide (anal-R) was decreased, the cationicity of this peptide was increased. CD measurements showed the substitution of Arg or Ser decrease the alpha-helical conformation of analog peptides. Studies with analog peptides have shown decreases in hydrophobicity and alpha-helicity do not affect antifungal activity but decrease hemolytic activity. These results suggest that highly hydrophobic and alpha-helical natures are not desirable in the design of antimicrobial peptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sankyuk-dong, Puk-ku, Daegu 702-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Sang
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Dong Gun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001120:Arginine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008555:Melitten / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012694:Serine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C528175:Anal-R peptide; C528176:Anal-S peptide; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D029941:Fish Proteins; D008081:Liposomes; D010455:Peptides; C105851:pleurocidin; D008555:Melitten; D012694:Serine; D001120:Arginine