Direct antimicrobial activities of PR-bombesin

Life Sci. 2006 Mar 20;78(17):1953-6. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2005.08.034. Epub 2005 Nov 2.

Abstract

PR-bombesin is a bombesin-like peptide derived from the skin of the Chinese red belly toad, Bombina maxima. The 8-residue segment of N-terminal of RP-bombesin, comprising four prolines and three basic residues, is extensively different from other bombesin-like peptides. Since sequence of Pro-Arg-Pro generally plays an important role in the antimicrobial activity of proline-rich antimicrobial peptides, the componential feature of PR-bombesin indicates that it may have antimicrobial activity. In this paper, we presented the first evidence that bombesin-like peptides possess direct antimicrobial activities as some neuropeptides. It was determined by CD spectroscopy that PR-bombesin adopted a combination of random coil and beta-sheet structure, suggesting RP-bombesin is a new member of antimicrobial peptides having beta structure but without disulfide bonds. Current results also supported that PR-bombesin plays a direct defensive role besides its neuro-endocrological functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anura
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bombesin / chemistry
  • Bombesin / pharmacology*
  • Circular Dichroism / methods
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth / drug effects
  • Neuropeptides / chemistry
  • Neuropeptides / pharmacology*
  • Proline / chemistry*
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Skin / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Neuropeptides
  • Proline
  • Bombesin