Identification of the initial binding sites of alphas2-casein f(183-207) and effect on bacterial membranes and cell morphology

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 Oct;1778(10):2444-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2008.06.018. Epub 2008 Jul 4.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to identify the initial binding sites to the bacterial membranes of the antimicrobial peptide alphas2-casein f(183-207) and also to acquire further insight into membrane permeabilization of this peptide. Furthermore, cell morphology was studied by transmission electron microscopy. In all the experiments, bovine LFcin was employed as a comparison. Results showed that initial binding sites of alphas2-casein f(183-207) peptide were lipoteichoic acid in Gram-positive bacteria and lipopolysaccharide in Gram-negative. The peptide was able to permeabilize the outer and inner membranes. Moreover, the alphas2-casein peptide f(183-207) generated pores in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and in the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. In the Gram-negative bacteria, f(183-207) originated cytoplasm condensation, and in the Gram-positive bacteria the cytoplasmic content leaked into the extracellular medium. Furthermore, the experiments of inner and outer membrane permeabilization performed with LFcin-B showed that this peptide also has the ability to permeabilize both the inner and outer membranes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Caseins* / metabolism
  • Caseins* / pharmacology
  • Cattle
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Cell Shape
  • Escherichia coli / cytology*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments* / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments* / pharmacology
  • Staphylococcus / cytology*
  • Staphylococcus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus / metabolism
  • Teichoic Acids / metabolism

Substances

  • Caseins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Teichoic Acids
  • alpha(S2)-casein (183-207)
  • lipoteichoic acid