Semenogelins Armed in Zn(II) and Cu(II): May Bioinorganic Chemistry Help Nature to Cope with Enterococcus faecalis?

ABSTRACT: Proteolytic degradation of semenogelins, the most abundant proteins from human semen, results in the formation of 26- and 29-amino acid peptides (SgIIA and SgI-29, respectively), which share a common 15 amino acid fragment (Sg-15). All three ligands are effective Zn(II) and Cu(II) binders; in solution, a variety of differently metalated species exist in equilibrium, with the [NH₂, 3N_im] donor set prevailing at physiological pH in the case of both metals. For the first time, the Cu(II)-induced antimicrobial activity of Sg-15 against Enterococcus faecalis is shown. In the case of the two native semenogelin fragment metal complexes, the strong local positive charge in the metal-bound HH motif correlates well with their antimicrobial activity. A careful analysis of

SUBMITTER: Dudek D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10466376 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature