title: Design of potent, non-toxic anticancer peptides based on the structure of the antimicrobial peptide, temporin-1CEa.
abstract: Recent advances in the search for novel anticancer agents have indicated that the positively charged antimicrobial peptides have emerged as promising agents offering several advantages over the conventional anticancer drugs. As a naturally occurring, cationic, α-helical antimicrobial peptide, temproin-1CEa has been proved to exhibit a potent anticancer effect and a moderate hemolytic activity. In order to reduce the hemolytic activity of temporin-1CEa and improve its anticancer potency towards a range of human breast cancer cells, in the present study, six analogs of temporin-1CEa were rationally designed and synthesized. The amphipathicity levels and α-helical structural patterns of peptides were reserved, while their cationic property and hydrophobicity were changed. The results of MTT and hemolysis assay indicated that the analog peptides displayed an improved anticancer activity and showed an overall optimized therapeutic index. The hydrophobicity of peptides was positively correlated with their hemolytic and antitumor activities. Moreover, the data suggest a strategy of increasing the cationicity while maintaining the moderate hydrophobicity of naturally occurring amphipathic α-helical peptides to generate analogs with improved cytotoxicity against tumor cells but decreased activity against non-neoplastic cells such as human erythrocytes. This work highlights the potential for rational design and synthesis of improved antimicrobial peptides that have the capability to be used therapeutically for treatment of cancers.
authors.affiliation: Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Drug Discovery, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116029, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Zhu
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Che
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: De-Jing
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shang
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015195:Drug Design; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D010455:Peptides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010455:Peptides; C582109:temporin-1CEa, Rana chensinensis