Lactoferricins impair the cytosolic membrane of <i>Escherichia coli</i> within a few seconds and accumulate inside the cell.

ABSTRACT: We report the real-time response of Escherichia coli to lactoferricin-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) on length scales bridging microscopic cell sizes to nanoscopic lipid packing using millisecond time-resolved synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering. Coupling a multiscale scattering data analysis to biophysical assays for peptide partitioning revealed that the AMPs rapidly permeabilize the cytosolic membrane within less than 3 s-much faster than previously considered. Final intracellular AMP concentrations of ∼80-100 mM suggest an efficient obstruction of physiologically important processes as the primary cause of bacterial killing. On the other hand, damage of the cell envelope and leakage occurred also at sublethal peptide concentrations, thus emerging as a collateral effe

SUBMITTER: Semeraro EF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9352351 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature