Proline Hinged Amphipathic α-Helical Peptide Sensitizes Gram-Negative Bacteria to Various Gram-Positive Antibiotics

J Med Chem. 2020 Dec 10;63(23):14937-14950. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01506. Epub 2020 Nov 18.

Abstract

Gram-negative bacteria are becoming resistant to almost all currently available antibiotics. Systemically designed antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are attractive agents to enhance the activities of antibiotics. We constructed a small Pro-scanning library using amphipathic model peptides. Measurements of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Escherichia coli and hemolytic activities showed that one of the Pro-hinged peptides, KL-L9P, displays the highest specificity toward E. coli. Moreover, KL-L9P sensitizes E. coli to be responsive to most antibiotics that are not active against Gram-negative bacteria. The results of biochemical experiments show that KL-L9P promotes the rearrangement of the bacterial membrane that enables hydrophobic antibiotics to permeate. Finally, the results of animal tests demonstrate that KL-L9P strongly sensitizes Gram-negative bacteria to linezolid (Lzd), rifampicin (Rif), or clarithromycin (Clr). Thus, KL-L9P operates as a sensitizer to extend the antibacterial activity of most antibiotics to Gram-negative bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Clarithromycin / pharmacology
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Linezolid / pharmacology
  • Lipid A / metabolism
  • Membrane Fluidity / drug effects
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Proline / chemistry
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
  • Rifampin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Lipid A
  • Proline
  • Clarithromycin
  • Linezolid
  • Rifampin