De novo generation of short antimicrobial peptides with simple amino acid composition.
As potential therapeutic agents, antimicrobial peptides with shorter length and simpler amino acid composition can be better candidates for clinical and commercial development. Here, we attempted de novo design of short (5- to 11-residue) antimicrobial peptides with three kinds of amino acids. Amphipathic helical properties were conferred by using leucines and lysines and two tryptophan residues were positioned at the critical amphipathic interface between the hydrophilic ending side and the hydrophobic starting side. According to this specified rule, 12 model peptides were generated and their helical propensity was confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Antimicrobial and hemolytic activities were compared with those of the known 12-residue peptide agent, omiganan, which is currently under therapeutic and commercial development. Antimicrobial activities against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including a multi-drug resistant strain, were observed for certain 7- to 11-residue models. Among them, the most potent activity was found for a 9-residue peptide (L₅K₂W₂), although it also had severe hemolytic activity. Alternatively, an 11-residue peptide (L₄K₅W₂) with little hemolytic activity was potentially the most useful agent, as it showed higher antibacterial activity than omiganan. These results not only suggest useful candidates for novel antibiotic development, but also provide an efficient strategy to design such peptides.
Lee
Sung-Hee
SH
Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk 380-701, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Seo-Jin
SJ
Lee
Yoo-Sup
YS
Song
Min-Dong
MD
Kim
Ick-Hee
IH
Won
Hyung-Sik
HS
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D015195:Drug Design; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010455:Peptides; C478918:omiganan pentahydrochloride