Multimodal binding and inhibition of bacterial ribosomes by the antimicrobial peptides Api137 and Api88.

ABSTRACT: Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs) inhibit bacterial protein biosynthesis by binding to the polypeptide exit tunnel (PET) near the peptidyl transferase center. Api137, an optimized derivative of honeybee PrAMP apidaecin, inhibits protein expression by trapping release factors (RFs), which interact with stop codons on ribosomes to terminate translation. This study uses cryo-EM, functional assays and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to show that Api137 additionally occupies a second binding site near the exit of the PET and can repress translation independently of RF-trapping. Api88, a C-terminally amidated (-CONH₂) analog of Api137 (-COOH), binds to the same sites, occupies a third binding pocket and interferes with the translation process presumably without RF-trappi

SUBMITTER: Lauer SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11087509 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature