title: RV-23, a Melittin-Related Peptide with Cell-Selective Antibacterial Activity and High Hemocompatibility.
abstract: RV-23 is a melittin-related antibacterial peptide (MRP) with lower cytotoxicity than either melittin or AR-23, another MRP. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism of RV- 23's antibacterial selectivity and its hemocompatibility. The results showed that all the peptides exhibited lytic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with RV-23 showing the highest potency. Moreover, RV-23 had lower cytotoxicity than melittin or AR-23 at their minimal inhibitory concentration. In addition, CD experiments showed that melittin, RV-23, and AR-23 all had a typical α-helical structure, and RV-23 had the lowest α-helix content. The structural information showed that RV-23 has the lowest hydrophobicity and highest hydrophobic moment. Because hydrophobicity and α-helix content are believed to correlate with hemolysis, the results indicate that the selective lytic activity against bacteria of RV-23 may be due to its low hydrophobicity and α-helicity, which lead to low cytotoxicity without affecting antibacterial activity. Furthermore, RV-23 did not affect the structure and function of blood components such as red blood cells, platelets, albumin, and the blood coagulation system. In conclusion, RV-23 is a cell-selective antibacterial peptide with high hemocompatibility due to its unique structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shi-Kun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Su-Bo
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shou-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D029845:Amphibian Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D006461:Hemolysis; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008422:Materials Testing; D008555:Melitten / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000072756:Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C584422:AR-23 peptide, Rana fagoi; D029845:Amphibian Proteins; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010455:Peptides; D008555:Melitten
keywords: AR-23; RV-23; antibacterial peptide; blood compatibility; melittin; melittin-related peptide