Prospecting mastoparan-membrane interaction in proteolipossomes as models for the rational development of novel antimicrobial agents.

• Grant number: 07/07928-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2008
• End date: June 30, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Mario Sergio Palma
• Grantee: Alessandra Vaso Rodrigues da Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais (CEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 06/57122-7 - Searching for lead compounds for rational development of new drugs and pesticides through bioprospecting in Brazilian arthropods, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

Currently there is a keen interest on polycationic peptides due to their involvement on a wide range of biological activities, including antibiosis. An important argument used to justify the importance of the antimicrobial peptides is related to reduced probability of bacteria to develop mechanisms of resistance against this type of molecule, since their main target are the cell membrane.The structural studies of mastoparans peptides (isolated from the venom social wasps) under interaction with synthetic membranes (simulating the natural ones) constitute currently interesting subjects of bioprospection forwarded to the development of novel antimicrobial drugs for the therapy of infective diseases. Thus, the present project aims the investigation of the interaction between the antibacterial peptide Protonectarina-MP (isolated form the venom of the social wasp Protonectarina sylveirae) and synthetic lipid membranes by monitoring of the isotopic exchange hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) in complex proteolipossomes (with different lipid compositions), through the use ESI mass spectrometry. This will permit the assignment of the exact position of the peptide under interaction with lipossomes membranes, offering possibility to understand the mode of action of this type of peptide. The possible model(s) to be proposed for the interaction of Protonectarina-MP with different lipid membranes certainly will be used to design new strategies for the rational development of novel antimicrobial agents, particularly against resistant pathogens.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVA, Alessandra Vaso Rodrigues da. . 2009. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Rio Claro Rio Claro.