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Antimicrobial peptides against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae and Erwinia amylovora : Chemical synthesis, secondary structure, efficacy, and mechanistic investigations
Author(s) -
Cameron Alan,
Zoysa Gayan Heruka De,
Sarojini Vijayalekshmi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
peptide science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.22423
Subject(s) - pseudomonas syringae , erwinia , chemistry , peptide , antimicrobial , antimicrobial peptides , bacterial cell structure , biochemistry , cell wall , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , stereochemistry , biology , organic chemistry , genetics , gene
We report on structurally modified dodecapeptide amides (KYKLFKKILKFL‐NH 2 ) and two analogs of a hexapeptide amide (WRWYCR‐NH 2 ) with antibacterial activity against the Gram negative pathogens Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) and Erwinia amylovora (Ea). Dodecapeptide minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 3.2 to 15.4 µ M , with the unmodified peptide being the most potent against both pathogens. The unmodified dodecapeptide also had 32–58% α‐helicity in membrane mimetic environments (50% v/v trifluoroethanol and 30 m M SDS micelles). Structural modifications which included branching, acylation, and conjugation with 5‐nitro‐2‐furaldehyde (NFA) proved detrimental to both antimicrobial activity and α‐helicity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed distinct morphological changes to bacterial cells treated with the different peptides, leading to blistering of the membrane and cell lysis. MICs of the hexapeptide amide were 3.9–7.7 µ M against both pathogens. The hexapeptide acid did not show anti‐bacterial activity against either pathogen. However, the NFA conjugated hexapeptide acid was more active than the parent peptide or NFA alone with MICs of 1.6–3.2 µ M against the pathogens. SEM analysis revealed shriveling and collapse of bacterial cells treated with the hexapeptide, whereas shortening and compactness on exposure to streptomycin. A colorimetric assay demonstrated that the dodecapeptides were likely to act by targeting the bacterial membrane, whereas the hexapeptides, streptomycin, and NFA were not, thereby supporting the morphological changes observed during SEM. To the best of our knowledge, this appears to be the first report of antimicrobial peptide activity against Psa, a pathogen that is currently devastating the kiwifruit industry internationally. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 102: 88–96, 2014.