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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Effect of C-terminal and N-terminal dimerization and alanine scanning on antibacterial activity of the analogs of the peptide p-BthTX-I

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Author(s):
Santos-Filho, Norival Alves [1] ; Righetto, Gabriela Marinho [2] ; Pereira, Marina Rodrigues [1] ; Piccoli, Julia Pinto [1] ; Teizen Almeida, Larissa Mathias [1] ; Leal, Thaina Cristina [1] ; Baratella Cunha Camargo, Ilana Lopes [2] ; Cilli, Eduardo Maffud [1]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] UNESP, Inst Quim, Araraquara, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: PEPTIDE SCIENCE; SEP 2021.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

The peptide (p-BthTX-I)(2) {[}(KKYRYHLKPFCKK)(2)] and its analog des-Lys(12),Lys(13)-(p-BthTX-I)(2) {[}(KKYRYHLKPFC)(2)] showed activity against bacteria and potential specificity against prokaryotic cells. In this study, we synthesized the peptide des-Cys(11),Lys(12),Lys(13)-(p-BthTX-I)(2)K {[}(KKYRYHLKPF)(2)K] with a Lys instead of a Cys residue in the dimerization step, beginning the SPPS with Fmoc-Lys(Fmoc)-OH. This change avoided Cys oxidation, decreasing one step in the original peptide synthesis and obtaining a smaller and more stable peptide. The antimicrobial activity of the peptide des-Cys(11),Lys(12),Lys(13)-(p-BthTX-I)(2)K was superior to that of the (p-BthTX-I)(2) peptide against the bacterial strains tested. Additionally, to evaluate the impact of the linker position on peptide dimerization, we synthesized peptide E(p-BthTX-I)(2) {[}E(KKYRYHLKPFCKK)(2)] using Fmoc-Glu-OH at the end of the synthesis. This N-terminal dimeric peptide did not increase the antibacterial activity, indicating that the free N-terminal is essential for (p-BthTX-I)(2) activity. Additionally, we observed lower antimicrobial activity by substituting positive and aromatic residues with Ala in the alanine scanning assay, irrespective of the amino acid change, indicating that each amino acid is essential for the mechanism of action of the peptide. Therefore, we demonstrated that the (p-BthTX-I)(2) analog, which is shorter and synthesized by an easier process leading to a more stable peptide, is the most antibacterial active peptide against multidrug-resistant bacteria and does not increase hemolysis activity. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/07600-3 - CIBFar - Center for Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery
Grantee:Glaucius Oliva
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
FAPESP's process: 12/15346-7 - Antimicrobial peptides: dimerization effects and encapsulation in NRLb biomembrane
Grantee:Eduardo Maffud Cilli
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 14/05538-1 - Synthesis, characterization, study of action mechanism and analysis of different release methods of pBthTX-I, in its monomeric and dimeric forms
Grantee:Norival Alves Santos Filho
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral