A Bowman-Birk Inhibitor from the Seeds of Luetzelburgia auriculata Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Growth by Promoting Severe Cell Membrane Damage

J Nat Prod. 2018 Jul 27;81(7):1497-1507. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00545. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a multidrug-resistant bacterium responsible for several cases of hospital-acquired infections, which constitute a global public health problem. The introduction of new healthcare strategies and/or the discovery of molecules capable of inhibiting the growth or killing S. aureus would have a huge impact on the treatment of S. aureus-mediated diseases. Herein, a Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor ( LzaBBI), with strong in vitro antibacterial activity against S. aureus, was purified to homogeneity from Luetzelburgia auriculata seeds. LzaBBI in its native form is a 14.3 kDa protein and has a pI of 4.54, and its NH2-terminal sequence has high identity with other Bowman-Birk inhibitors. LzaBBI showed a mixed-type inhibitory activity against both trypsin and chymotrypsin, respectively, and it remained stable after both boiling at 98 °C for 120 min and incubation at various pHs. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that LzaBBI disrupted the S. aureus membrane integrity, leading to bacterial death. This study suggests that LzaBBI is a powerful candidate for developing a new antimicrobial to overcome drug resistance toward reducing hospital-acquired infections caused by S. aureus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects*
  • Chymotrypsin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Fabaceae / chemistry*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Protease Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protease Inhibitors / isolation & purification*
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / ultrastructure
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / isolation & purification
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Trypsin Inhibitors
  • Chymotrypsin