Feleucins: novel bombinin precursor-encoded nonapeptide amides from the skin secretion of Bombina variegata

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:671362. doi: 10.1155/2014/671362. Epub 2014 Jun 9.

Abstract

The first amphibian skin antimicrobial peptide (AMP) to be identified was named bombinin, reflecting its origin from the skin of the European yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata). Bombinins and their related peptides, the bombinin Hs, were subsequently reported from other bombinid toads. Molecular cloning of bombinin-encoding cDNAs from skin found that bombinins and bombinin Hs were coencoded on the same precursor proteins. Here, we report the molecular cloning of two novel cDNAs from a skin secretion-derived cDNA library of B. variegata whose open-reading frames each encode a novel bombinin (GIGGALLNVGKVALKGLAKGLAEHFANamide) and a C-terminally located single copy of a novel nonapeptide (FLGLLGGLLamide or FLGLIGSLLamide). These novel nonapeptides were named feleucin-BV1 and feleucin-BV2, respectively. The novel bombinin exhibited 89% identity to homologues from the toads, B. microdeladigitora and B. maxima. The feleucins exhibited no identity with any amphibian AMP archived in databases. Synthetic feleucins exhibited a weak activity against Staphylococcus aureus (128-256 mg/L) but feleucin-BV1 exhibited a synergistic action with the novel bombinin. The present report clearly demonstrates that the skin secretions of bombinid toads continue to represent a source of peptides of novel structure that could provide templates for the design of therapeutics.

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry*
  • Amides / pharmacology
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology
  • Anura / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Horses
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Skin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amides
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Oligopeptides

Associated data

  • GENBANK/HG794243
  • GENBANK/HG794244