Cateslytin, a chromogranin A derived peptide is active against Staphylococcus aureus and resistant to degradation by its proteases

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 24;8(7):e68993. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068993. Print 2013.

Abstract

Innate immunity involving antimicrobial peptides represents an integrated and highly effective system of molecular and cellular mechanisms that protects host against infections. One of the most frequent hospital-acquired pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, capable of producing proteolytic enzymes, which can degrade the host defence agents and tissue components. Numerous antimicrobial peptides derived from chromogranins, are secreted by nervous, endocrine and immune cells during stress conditions. These kill microorganisms by their lytic effect at micromolar range, using a pore-forming mechanism against Gram-positive bacteria, filamentous fungi and yeasts. In this study, we tested antimicrobial activity of chromogranin A-derived peptides (catestatin and cateslytin) against S. aureus and analysed S. aureus-mediated proteolysis of these peptides using HPLC, sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Interestingly, this study is the first to demonstrate that cateslytin, the active domain of catestatin, is active against S. aureus and is interestingly resistant to degradation by S. aureus proteases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromogranin A / chemistry*
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / enzymology*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Chromogranin A
  • Peptides
  • Peptide Hydrolases

Grants and funding

The authors thank the University of Strasbourg, the Inserm for financial support and the Faculty of Odontology and Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for the PhD grant of RA. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.