Abstract
Three chimera peptides composed of bovine lactoferrampin and the analogue of truncated human neutrophil peptide 1 were synthesized by the solid-phase method. In two compounds peptide chains were connected via isopeptide bond, whereas in the third one disulfide bridge served as a linker. All three chimeras displayed significantly higher antimicrobial activity than the constituent peptides as well as their equimolar mixtures. The one with a disulfide bridge displayed selectivity toward Gram-positive bacteria and was able to penetrate bacterial cells. The chimeric peptides demonstrated low in vitro mammalian cytotoxicity, especially against benign cells. The significance of linker type was also reflected in the secondary structure and proteolytic stability of studied compounds. Presented results proved that such chimeras are good lead structures for designing antimicrobial drugs.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
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Antifungal Agents / chemistry*
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Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
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Candida / drug effects
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Cattle
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Circular Dichroism
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Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
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Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
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Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
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Humans
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Lactoferrin / chemistry*
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Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
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Protein Structure, Secondary
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Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry*
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology*
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Structure-Activity Relationship
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alpha-Defensins / chemistry*
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Antifungal Agents
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Fluorescent Dyes
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Peptide Fragments
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Reactive Oxygen Species
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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alpha-Defensins
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human neutrophil peptide 1
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lactoferrampin
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Lactoferrin