Open AccessAugmentation of the antibacterial activity of magainin by positive-charge chain extension
Author(s) -
Roberto Bessalle,
H Haas,
A Goria,
Itamar Shalit,
Mati Fridkin
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.36.2.313
Subject(s) - magainin , escherichia coli , antibacterial activity , peptide , pseudomonas aeruginosa , antimicrobial , staphylococcus aureus , chemistry , antimicrobial peptides , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , bacteria , biology , genetics , gene
Novel analogs of the broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide magainin-2 were obtained by extension of its chain through addition of segments of positively charged amino acids to either its N or its C terminus and by increasing its helicity. The activity of magainin-2 toward American Type Culture Collection strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus was most considerably enhanced by these modifications, whereas, in general, its low hemolytic capacity was not or was only slightly affected. The antibacterial potencies of magainin-2 and its derivatives were more evident following decreases of pH from 7.2 to 6 and 5.