Eurocin, a new fungal defensin: structure, lipid binding, and its mode of action

J Biol Chem. 2012 Dec 7;287(50):42361-72. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.382028. Epub 2012 Oct 23.

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides are a new class of antibiotics that are promising for pharmaceutical applications because they have retained efficacy throughout evolution. One class of antimicrobial peptides are the defensins, which have been found in different species. Here we describe a new fungal defensin, eurocin. Eurocin acts against a range of Gram-positive human pathogens but not against Gram-negative bacteria. Eurocin consists of 42 amino acids, forming a cysteine-stabilized α/β-fold. The thermal denaturation data point shows the disulfide bridges being responsible for the stability of the fold. Eurocin does not form pores in cell membranes at physiologically relevant concentrations; it does, however, lead to limited leakage of a fluorophore from small unilamellar vesicles. Eurocin interacts with detergent micelles, and it inhibits the synthesis of cell walls by binding equimolarly to the cell wall precursor lipid II.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
  • Defensins / chemistry*
  • Defensins / pharmacology
  • Eurotium / chemistry*
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry*
  • Fungal Proteins / pharmacology
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / metabolism
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Membrane Lipids / chemistry*
  • Membrane Lipids / metabolism
  • Micelles
  • Protein Folding*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid / chemistry
  • Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Defensins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Micelles
  • Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid
  • muramyl-NAc-(pentapeptide)pyrophosphoryl-undecaprenol

Associated data

  • PDB/2LT8