title: Methods for Elucidating the Mechanism of Action of Proline-Rich and Other Non-lytic Antimicrobial Peptides.
abstract: A distinct group of antimicrobial peptides kills bacteria by interfering with internal cellular functions and without concurrent lytic effects on cell membranes. Here we describe some methods to investigate the mechanisms of action of these antimicrobial peptides. They include assays to detect the possible temporal separation between membrane permeabilization and bacterial killing events, to assess the capacity of antimicrobial peptides to cross the bacterial membranes and reside in the cytoplasm, and later to inhibit vital cell functions such as DNA transcription and protein translation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 5, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benincasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 5, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Runti
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 5, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mardirossian
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 5, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gennaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 5, 34127, Trieste, Italy. mscocchi@units.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scocchi
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011392:Proline / Q000737:chemistry*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D011392:Proline
keywords: Antimicrobial peptide; Cell uptake; Flow cytometry; Mechanism of action; Membrane permeabilization; Proline-rich peptide