Synthetic antimicrobial peptides: From choice of the best sequences to action mechanisms.

Synthetic antimicrobial peptides: From choice of the best sequences to action mechanisms. Biochimie. 2020 Jun 11;: Authors: Souza PFN, Marques LSM, Oliveira JTA, Lima PG, Dias LP, Neto NAS, Lopes FES, Sousa JS, Silva AFB, Caneiro RF, Lopes JLS, Ramos MV, Freitas CDT Abstract The emergence of antibiotic-resistant microbes has stimulated research worldwide seeking new biologically active molecules. In this respect, synthetic antimicrobial peptides (SAMPs) have been suggested to overcome this problem. Although there are some online servers that provide putative SAMPs from protein sequences, the choice of the best peptide sequences for further analysis is still difficult. Therefore, the goal of this paper is not to launch a new tool but to provide a friendly workflow to characterize and predict potential SAMPs by employing existing tools. Using this proposed workflow, two peptides (PepGAT and PepKAA) were obtained and extensively characterized. These peptides damaged microbial membranes and cell walls, and induced overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Both peptides were found to assume random coil secondary structure in aqueous solution, organic solvent, and upon binding to negatively charged lipid systems. Peptides were also able to degrade formed biofilms but not to prevent biofilm formation. PepGAT was not resistant to proteolysis, whereas PepKAA was resistant to pepsin but not to pancreatin. Furthermore, both presented no ...
Source: Biochimie - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Biochimie Source Type: research