Three-dimensional structure of the alpha-MSH-derived candidacidal peptide [Ac-CKPV]2

J Pept Res. 2005 Jul;66(1):19-26. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3011.2005.00265.x.

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the immunomodulatory peptide alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and its carboxy-terminal tripeptide KPV (Lys-Pro-Val alpha-MSH11-13) have antimicrobial influences. By inserting a Cys-Cys linker between two units of KPV, we designed the dimer [Ac-CKPV]2 that showed excellent candidacidal effects in pilot tests and was the subject of further investigations. [Ac-CKPV]2 was active against azole-resistant Candida spp. Therefore, the molecule appeared a promising candidate for therapy of fungal infections and was the subject of a structural study. 1H-NMR and restrained mechanic and dynamic calculations suggest that the peptide adopts an extended backbone structure with a beta-turn-like structure. These results open a pathway to development of additional novel compounds that have candidacidal effects potentially useful against clinical infections.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Candida / drug effects*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Protein Conformation
  • alpha-MSH / analogs & derivatives
  • alpha-MSH / chemistry*
  • alpha-MSH / pharmacology

Substances

  • (Ac-CKPV)2
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Oligopeptides
  • alpha-MSH