Redesigned Spider Peptide with Improved Antimicrobial and Anticancer Properties.

Abstract

Gomesin, a disulfide-rich antimicrobial peptide produced by the Brazilian spider Acanthoscurria gomesiana, has been shown to be potent against Gram-negative bacteria and to possess selective anticancer properties against melanoma cells. In a recent study, a backbone cyclized analogue of gomesin was shown to be as active but more stable than its native form. In the current study, we were interested in improving the antimicrobial properties of the cyclic gomesin, understanding its selectivity toward melanoma cells and elucidating its antimicrobial and anticancer mode of action. Rationally designed analogues of cyclic gomesin were examined for their antimicrobial potency, selectivity toward cancer cells, membrane-binding affinity, and ability to disrupt cell and model membranes. We improved the activity of cyclic gomesin by ∼10-fold against tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria without increasing toxicity to human red blood cells. In addition, we showed that gomesin and its analogues are more toxic toward melanoma and leukemia cells than toward red blood cells and act by selectively targeting and disrupting cancer cell membranes. Preference toward some cancer types is likely dependent on their different cell membrane properties. Our findings highlight the potential of peptides as antimicrobial and anticancer leads and the importance of selectively targeting cancer cell membranes for drug development.

• Authors: Sónia Troeira Henriques, Nicole Lawrence, Stephanie Chaousis, Anjaneya S Ravipati, Olivier Cheneval, Aurélie H Benfield, Alysha G Elliott, Angela Maria Kavanagh, Matthew A Cooper, Lai Yue Chan, Yen-Hua Huang, David J Craik
• Journal: ACS chemical biology (ACS Chem Biol) Vol. 12 Issue 9 Pg. 2324-2334 (09 15 2017) ISSN: 1554-8937 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28741926 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Lipid Bilayers
• gomesin

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Infective Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Antineoplastic Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Bacteria (drug effects)
• Bacterial Infections (drug therapy)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Fungi (drug effects)
• Humans
• Leukemia (drug therapy)
• Lipid Bilayers (metabolism)
• Melanoma (drug therapy)
• Mycoses (drug therapy)
• Spiders (chemistry)