Purification, characterisation and identification of acidocin LCHV, an antimicrobial peptide produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus n.v. Er 317/402 strain Narine.
In the last two decades, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been gaining attention as antimicrobial alternatives to chemical food preservatives and commonly used antibiotics. Lactobacillus acidophilus n.v. Er 317/402 strain Narine produces a small AMP with a molecular weight of 1.1kDa, designated acidocin LCHV. In this study, the AMP was extremely heat stable (90min at 130 degrees C), was active over a wide pH range and was found to be sensitive to proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, pepsin and proteinase K). Acidocin LCHV has a broad spectrum of activity both against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including several that are classified as Especially Dangerous Infections by the World Health Organization as well as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) was used to determine the molecular mass and sequence of the purified peptide. Complete killing with immediate impact on cells was observed within a very short period of time (10min).
Mkrtchyan
Hermine
H
London Metropolitan University, Institute for Health Research and Policy, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, UK. herminemkrtchyan@yahoo.com
Gibbons
Simon
S
Heidelberger
Sibylle
S
Zloh
Mire
M
Limaki
Hamidreza Khalatbari
HK
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D055550:Protein Stability; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013696:Temperature
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001430:Bacteriocins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases