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LyeTx I, a potent antimicrobial peptide from the venom of the spider Lycosa erythrognatha

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Abstract

LyeTx I, an antimicrobial peptide isolated from the venom of Lycosa erythrognatha, known as wolf spider, has been synthesised and its structural profile studied by using the CD and NMR techniques. LyeTx I has shown to be active against bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi (Candida krusei and Cryptococcus neoformans) and able to alter the permeabilisation of l-α-phosphatidylcholine-liposomes (POPC) in a dose-dependent manner. In POPC containing cholesterol or ergosterol, permeabilisation has either decreased about five times or remained unchanged, respectively. These results, along with the observed low haemolytic activity, indicated that antimicrobial membranes, rather than vertebrate membranes seem to be the preferential targets. However, the complexity of biological membranes compared to liposomes must be taken in account. Besides, other membrane components, such as proteins and even specific lipids, cannot be discarded to be important to the preferential action of the LyeTx I to the tested microorganisms. The secondary structure of LyeTx I shows a small random-coil region at the N-terminus followed by an α-helix that reached the amidated C-terminus, which might favour the peptide-membrane interaction. The high activity against bacteria together with the moderate activity against fungi and the low haemolytic activity have indicated LyeTx I as a good prototype for developing new antibiotic peptides.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by FAPEMIG, MCT-FINEP, CAPES, CNPq and INCTTOX-Fapesp. Authors would like to thank Dr C. Bloch Jr for his stimulating discussions de novo sequencing in mass spectrometry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lab. Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    D. M. Santos, D. F. F. Moreira, A. M. C. Pimenta & M. E. de Lima

  2. Departamento de Química, ICEX, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    R. M. Verly & D. Piló-Veloso

  3. Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    M. de Maria

  4. Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    M. A. R. de Carvalho, P. S. Cisalpino, B. M. Soares & L. M. Farias

  5. Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    C. G. Diniz

  6. Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    F. Frézard

  7. Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, PqEB, Av. W5 Norte (final), 70770-900, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil

    M. P. Bemquerer

Authors
  1. D. M. Santos
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  2. R. M. Verly
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  3. D. Piló-Veloso
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  4. M. de Maria
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  5. M. A. R. de Carvalho
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  6. P. S. Cisalpino
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  7. B. M. Soares
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  8. C. G. Diniz
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  9. L. M. Farias
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  10. D. F. F. Moreira
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  11. F. Frézard
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  12. M. P. Bemquerer
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  13. A. M. C. Pimenta
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  14. M. E. de Lima
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. E. de Lima.

Additional information

A.M.C. Pimenta and M.E. de Lima have contributed equally to this work

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Santos, D.M., Verly, R.M., Piló-Veloso, D. et al. LyeTx I, a potent antimicrobial peptide from the venom of the spider Lycosa erythrognatha . Amino Acids 39, 135–144 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-009-0385-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-009-0385-x

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