Structural characterization and cytolytic activity of a potent antimicrobial motif in longicin, a defensin-like peptide in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis

J Vet Med Sci. 2010 Feb;72(2):149-56. doi: 10.1292/jvms.09-0167. Epub 2009 Nov 25.

Abstract

Longicin, a defensin-like peptide, was recently identified in the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Longicin and one of its synthetic partial analogs (P4) displayed antimicrobial/fungicidal/parasiticidal activity. In the present study, we compared longicin-derived synthetic analogs in order to characterize the antimicrobial motif (P4) by analyzing some structural features using various bioinformatic tools and/or CD spectroscopy. According to the chemicophysical characteristics, P4 is suggested to be a cationic peptide with hydrophobic and amphipathic character. The predicted secondary structure indicated the existence of a beta-sheet, which was also observed in the modeled tertiary structure. CD spectroscopic results also showed the existence of a beta-sheet and transition to a helical conformation in the presence of membrane-mimicking conditions. These structural observations on P4 suggested that the antimicrobial activity could be due to the beta-sheet as well as the alpha-helix. In addition, a sequence homology search showed that molecules identified in other ticks and organisms also have the P4 analogous domain at their C-terminal, which indicates P4 as a conserved domain. The peptide P4 also showed low cytolytic activity. Based on the present result and previously reported studies, the peptide P4 could be suggested as a novel antimicrobial domain indicating future therapeutic agent against bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Defensins / chemistry
  • Defensins / pharmacology*
  • Hemolysis / drug effects*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Ixodidae / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Defensins