Antimicrobial effect and membrane-active mechanism of Urechistachykinins, neuropeptides derived from Urechis unicinctus.
We investigated the antimicrobial effects of Urechistachykinins I and II (UI and UII) and their modes of action. UI and UII showed antimicrobial activities without a hemolytic effect. To investigate the mechanism(s) of UI and UII, cellular localization was examined. Confocal microscopy results showed that peptides were located in the cell envelope. To elucidate the physical changes of membrane induced by UI and UII in Candida albicans, flow cytometry analyses were performed by using bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol, and changes in membrane dynamics were assessed using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. The results suggest that UI and UII may exert their antimicrobial effect by disrupting the cell membranes.
School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sankyuk-dong, Puk-ku, Daegu 702-701, Republic of Korea.
Woo Sang
WS
Sung
So Hyun
SH
Park
Dong Gun
DG
Lee
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009479:Neuropeptides; C080807:urechistachykinin I; C080808:urechistachykinin II