Antimicrobial peptides derived from goose egg white lysozyme

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2010 Jan;151(1):84-91. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2009.08.009. Epub 2009 Sep 6.

Abstract

Peptide fragments possessing antimicrobial activity were obtained by protease digestion of goose egg white lysozyme. Digested peptide purified from RP-HPLC which showed no lysozyme activity exhibited bactericidal activity toward Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. LC/MS-MS and automated Edman degradation revealed the amino acid sequence to be Thr-Ala-Lys-Pro-Glu-Gly-Leu-Ser-Tyr. This sequence corresponds to amino acid positions 20-28, located at the N-terminal outer part of goose lysozyme. The peptide acted on bacterial membrane as shown by scanning electron microscopy. The mechanism of action could be explained from a helical structure that may be formed by the centered Pro residue and the terminal Lys residue after the peptide attaches to a cell membrane. This is the first study to report that a peptide derived from the protease digests of G-type lysozyme possesses antimicrobial activity with broad spectrum activity. Our result is comparative to the previous reports of Chicken lysozyme and T4 phage lysozyme, which showed antimicrobial activity after digestion with protease. These results might contribute to the usage of antimicrobial peptides engineered by genetic or chemical synthesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Infective Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Infective Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Bacteria / growth & development
  • Bacteria / ultrastructure
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Reverse-Phase
  • Egg Proteins / chemistry
  • Egg Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Egg Proteins / metabolism
  • Egg Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Geese / metabolism*
  • Hydrolysis
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Muramidase / chemistry
  • Muramidase / isolation & purification
  • Muramidase / metabolism
  • Muramidase / pharmacology*
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / isolation & purification
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Egg Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Muramidase