A family of kassinatuerin-2 related peptides from the skin secretion of the African hyperoliid frog, Kassina maculata.
We describe the isolation and structural characterization of a family of antimicrobial peptides related to kassinatuerin-2, from the skin secretion of the African hyperoliid frog, Kassina maculata. All four peptides, designated kassinatuerin-2Ma through Md, are C-terminally-amidated 20-mers with the consensus sequence - FX(1)GAIAAALPHVIX(2)AIKNAL - where X(1)=L/F/V/I and X2=S/N. All four peptides are encoded by precursors of 69 amino acids. Synthetic replicates of all kassinatuerin-2 related peptides displayed a potent inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 16microM, at which concentration, however, they effected 18% haemolysis of horse erythrocytes after 2h. Despite obvious membranolytic properties, all peptides were ineffective at inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli at concentrations up to 200microM and were relatively ineffective against Candida albicans (MIC 120microM). The kassinatuerin-2 related peptides of K. maculata skin secretion thus possess a discrete antimicrobial and weak haemolytic activity in contrast to the prototype kassinatuerin-2 from the skin secretion of Kassina senegalensis.
Molecular Therapeutics Research, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
Lei
L
Wang
Mei
M
Zhou
Stephanie
S
McGrath
Tianbao
T
Chen
Sean P
SP
Gorman
Brian
B
Walker
Chris
C
Shaw
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D029845:Amphibian Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001001:Anura / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*
D029845:Amphibian Proteins; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010455:Peptides