Synthetic multivalent antifungal peptides effective against fungi

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 3;9(2):e87730. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087730. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Taking advantage of the cluster effect observed in multivalent peptides, this work describes antifungal activity and possible mechanism of action of tetravalent peptide (B4010) which carries 4 copies of the sequence RGRKVVRR through a branched lysine core. B4010 displayed better antifungal properties than natamycin and amphotericin B. The peptide retained significant activity in the presence of monovalent/divalent cations, trypsin and serum and tear fluid. Moreover, B4010 is non-haemolytic and non-toxic to mice by intraperitoneal (200 mg/kg) or intravenous (100 mg/kg) routes. S. cerevisiae mutant strains with altered membrane sterol structures and composition showed hyper senstivity to B4010. The peptide had no affinity for cell wall polysaccharides and caused rapid dissipation of membrane potential and release of vital ions and ATP when treated with C. albicans. We demonstrate that additives which alter the membrane potential or membrane rigidity protect C. albicans from B4010-induced lethality. Calcein release assay and molecular dynamics simulations showed that the peptide preferentially binds to mixed bilayer containing ergosterol over phophotidylcholine-cholesterol bilayers. The studies further suggested that the first arginine is important for mediating peptide-bilayer interactions. Replacing the first arginine led to a 2-4 fold decrease in antifungal activities and reduced membrane disruption properties. The combined in silico and in vitro approach should facilitate rational design of new tetravalent antifungal peptides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Calorimetry
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / growth & development
  • Candida albicans / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Conjunctiva / cytology
  • Conjunctiva / drug effects
  • Conjunctiva / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Rabbits
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / drug effects

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Peptide Fragments

Grants and funding

This research is supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council under its Translational Research Innovations in Ocular Surgery (TRIOS) Programme: Defensins project NMRC/TCR/002-SERI/2008 (RWB) and NMRC/NIG/1020/2010 (RL). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.