title: Bioprospecting the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) host defense peptidome.
abstract: Cationic antimicrobial peptides and their therapeutic potential have garnered growing interest because of the proliferation of bacterial resistance. However, the discovery of new antimicrobial peptides from animals has proven challenging due to the limitations associated with conventional biochemical purification and difficulties in predicting active peptides from genomic sequences, if known. As an example, no antimicrobial peptides have been identified from the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, although their serum is antimicrobial. We have developed a novel approach for the discovery of new antimicrobial peptides from these animals, one that capitalizes on their fundamental and conserved physico-chemical properties. This sample-agnostic process employs custom-made functionalized hydrogel microparticles to harvest cationic peptides from biological samples, followed by de novo sequencing of captured peptides, eliminating the need to isolate individual peptides. After evaluation of the peptide sequences using a combination of rational and web-based bioinformatic analyses, forty-five potential antimicrobial peptides were identified, and eight of these peptides were selected to be chemically synthesized and evaluated. The successful identification of multiple novel peptides, exhibiting antibacterial properties, from Alligator mississippiensis plasma demonstrates the potential of this innovative discovery process in identifying potential new host defense peptides.
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America.
authors: Barney M
authors: BM
authors: Bishop
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America.
authors: Melanie L
authors: ML
authors: Juba
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America.
authors: Megan C
authors: MC
authors: Devine
authors: School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors: Stephanie M
authors: SM
authors: Barksdale
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America.
authors: Carlos Alberto
authors: CA
authors: Rodriguez
authors: School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors: Myung C
authors: MC
authors: Chung
authors: Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors: Paul S
authors: PS
authors: Russo
authors: Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
authors: Kent A
authors: KA
authors: Vliet
authors: College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America.
authors: Joel M
authors: JM
authors: Schnur
authors: School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America; National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors: Monique L
authors: ML
authors: van Hoek
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D065132:Bioprospecting; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D040901:Proteomics
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010455:Peptides