Proline-Rich Peptides with Improved Antimicrobial Activity against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and A. baumannii.

ABSTRACT: Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs) are promising agents to combat multi-drug resistant pathogens due to a high antimicrobial activity, yet low cytotoxicity. A library of derivatives of the PrAMP Bac5(1-17) was synthesized and screened to identify which residues are relevant for its activity. In this way, we discovered that two central motifs -PIRXP- cannot be modified, while residues at N- and C- termini tolerated some variations. We found five Bac5(1-17) derivatives bearing 1-5 substitutions, with an increased number of arginine and/or tryptophan residues, exhibiting improved antimicrobial activity and broader spectrum of activity while retaining low cytotoxicity toward eukaryotic cells. Transcription/translation and bacterial membrane permeabilization assays showed that these n

SUBMITTER: Mardirossian M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6973051 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature