title: Coiled-coil forming peptides for the induction of silver nanoparticles.
abstract: Biopolymers with defined sequence patterns offer an attractive alternative for the formation of silver nanoparticle (AgNP). A set of coiled-coil dimer forming peptides was tested for their AgNP formation ability. Seventeen of those peptides mediated the formation of AgNPs in aqueous solution at neutral pH, while the formation of a coiled-coil dimer inhibited the nanoparticle generation. A QSAR regression model on the relationship between sequence and function suggests that in this peptide type the patterns KXQQ and KXEE are favorable, whereas Ala residues appear to have an inhibitory effect. UV-VIS spectra of the obtained nanoparticles gave a peak at around 420 nm, typical for AgNPs in the size range around 40 nm, which was confirmed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Peptide-induced AgNPs exhibited good antibacterial activity, even after a 15 min contact time, while they had low toxicity to human cells at the same concentrations. These results show that our designed peptides generate AgNPs with antibacterial activity at mild conditions and might be used for antibacterial coatings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Graduate School of Biomedicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Božič Abram
authors.affiliation: Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Doctoral Programme in Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aupič
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Materials Chemistry, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dražić
authors.affiliation: Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; EN-FIST, Centre of Excellence, Trg Osvobodilne fronte 13, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gradišar
authors.affiliation: Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; EN-FIST, Centre of Excellence, Trg Osvobodilne fronte 13, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia. Electronic address: roman.jerala@ki.si.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jerala
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods; D012834:Silver / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010455:Peptides; D012834:Silver
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Coiled-coils; Plasmon resonance; QSAR analysis; Silver nanoparticles