title: Selective substitution of amino acids limits proteolytic cleavage and improves the bioactivity of an anti-biofilm peptide that targets the periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis.
abstract: The interaction of the periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis, with oral streptococci such as Streptococcus gordonii precedes colonization of the subgingival pocket and represents a target for limiting P. gingivalis colonization of the oral cavity. Previous studies showed that a synthetic peptide (designated BAR) derived from the antigen I/II protein of S. gordonii was a potent competitive inhibitor of P. gingivalis adherence to S. gordonii and subsequent biofilm formation. Here we show that despite its inhibitory activity, BAR is rapidly degraded by intact P. gingivalis cells in vitro. However, in the presence of soluble Mfa protein, the P. gingivalis receptor for BAR, the peptide is protected from proteolytic degradation suggesting that the affinity of BAR for Mfa is higher than for P. gingivalis proteases. The rate of BAR degradation was reduced when the P. gingivalis lysine-specific gingipain was inhibited using the specific protease inhibitor, z-FKcK, or when the gene encoding the Lys-gingipain was inactivated. In addition, substituting d-Lys for l-Lys residues in BAR prevented degradation of the peptide when incubated with the Lys-gingipain and increased its specific adherence inhibitory activity in a S. gordonii-P. gingivalis dual species biofilm model. These results suggest that Lys-gingipain accounts in large part for P. gingivalis-mediated degradation of BAR and that more effective peptide inhibitors of P. gingivalis adherence to streptococci can be produced by introducing modifications that limit the susceptibility of BAR to the Lys-gingipain and other P. gingivalis associated proteases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Endodontics and Dental Hygiene, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, United States.
authors.forename: Carlo Amorin
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Daep
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Demuth
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D004355:Drug Stability; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
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