Development of Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptides through the Conjugation of FtsZ-Binding and Cell-Penetrating Peptides.

ABSTRACT: The rapid increase in bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics has led to a great demand for novel antibacterial agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as next-generation antimicrobial alternative drugs to conventional antibiotics because of their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities and minimal potential for drug resistance induction. This work describes novel antimicrobial peptides (FtsZpcpp) synthesized through the conjugation of a cell penetration peptide ((RXR)₄XB) to nonantimicrobial peptides (FtsZp). The FtsZp peptides were previously identified to bind FtsZ (flaming-temperature-sensitive protein Z), a crucial protein in regulating bacterial cell divisions. Newly designed FtsZpcpp peptides have broad antimicrobial activities against both Gram-positi

SUBMITTER: Du RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12340945 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature