Multivalent antimicrobial peptides from a reactive polymer scaffold.

Abstract

We report an application of the principle of multivalency to create new antimicrobial agents using the reactive polymaleic anhydride (PMA) chain to link antimicrobial tetrapeptides to afford multivalent variants containing approximately 40 monomer units. Relative to the free peptides, the product shows a 10-fold improvement in IC(50) without provoking more severe hemolysis of red blood cells. Thus, multivalency or polyvalency may offer a route to enhance the activity of antimicrobial peptides.

• Authors: Zhigang Liu, Heather Deshazer, Amanda J Rice, Kang Chen, Chunhui Zhou, Neville R Kallenbach
• Journal: Journal of medicinal chemistry (J Med Chem) Vol. 49 Issue 12 Pg. 3436-9 (Jun 15 2006) ISSN: 0022-2623 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16759083 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents
• Maleic Anhydrides
• Oligopeptides
• Polymers
• polymaleic anhydride

Topics

• Anti-Infective Agents (chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Bacillus subtilis (drug effects)
• Drug Design
• Escherichia coli (drug effects)
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Maleic Anhydrides (chemistry)
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Oligopeptides (chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Polymers (chemistry)