title: Scolopendin, an antimicrobial peptide from centipede, attenuates mitochondrial functions and triggers apoptosis inCandida albicans.
abstract: Centipedes, a type of arthropod, reportedly produce antimicrobial peptides as part of an innate immune response. Scolopendin (SPSEKAGLQPVGRIGRMLKK) is a novel antimicrobial peptide derived fromScolopendra subspinipes mutilansMany antifungal agents have more than one type of cell death mechanism. Although scolopendin is involved in membrane perturbation, the corresponding intracellular changes require further investigation. Therefore, we assessed the cell morphology and calcium ion concentration of the cytosol and mitochondria of scolopendin-treated cells. The treated cells were shrunken, and calcium ion homeostasis was disrupted in both the cytosol and mitochondria. These conditions attenuated mitochondrial homeostasis, disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochromeclevels. Fungal cells treated with scolopendin exhibited various apoptotic phenotypes such as reactive oxygen species accumulation, phosphatidylserine exposure, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. Scolopendin-induced cell death also triggered metacaspase activation. In conclusion, treatment ofCandida albicanswith scolopendin induced the apoptotic response, which in turn led to mitochondrial dysfunction, metacaspase activation, and cell death. The antimicrobial peptide scolopendin from the centipedeS.s. mutilansdemonstrated a novel apoptotic mechanism as an antifungal agent.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, BK 21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Heejeong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Wanju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Sam
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, BK 21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea dglee222@knu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong Gun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001181:Arthropods / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C000599549:scolopendin 1, Scolopendra subspinipes; D045304:Cytochromes c; D020169:Caspases; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans; antimicrobial effect; antimicrobial peptide; scolopendin; yeast apoptosis