Premium
Cell Penetrating Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides (SAMPs) Exhibiting Potent and Selective Killing of Mycobacterium by Targeting Its DNA
Author(s) -
Sharma Aashish,
Pohane Amol Arunrao,
Bansal Sandhya,
Bajaj Avinash,
Jain Vikas,
Srivastava Aasheesh
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201404650
Subject(s) - lytic cycle , antimicrobial peptides , internalization , microbiology and biotechnology , antimicrobial , mycobacterium , biology , dna , bacteria , cell , chemistry , biochemistry , virology , virus , genetics
Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are powerful defence tools to tackle pathogenic microbes. However, limited natural production and high synthetic costs in addition to poor selectivity limit large‐scale use of AMPs in clinical settings. Here, we present a series of synthetic AMPs (SAMPs) that exhibit highly selective and potent killing of Mycobacterium (minimum inhibitory concentration <20 μg mL −1 ) over E. coli or mammalian cells. These SAMPs are active against rapidly multiplying as well as growth saturated Mycobacterium cultures. These SAMPs are not membrane‐lytic in nature, and are readily internalized by Mycobacterium and mammalian cells; whereas in E. coli , the lipopolysaccharide layer inhibits their cellular uptake, and hence, their antibacterial action. Upon internalization, these SAMPs interact with the unprotected genomic DNA of mycobacteria, and impede DNA‐dependent processes, leading to bacterial cell death.