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Interaction of Cecropin A (1–7) Analogs with DNA Analyzed by Multi-spectroscopic Methods

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Abstract

Cecropin A (1–7) is a cationic antimicrobial peptide which contain lots of basic amino acids. To understand the effect of basic amino acids on cecropin A (1–7), analogues CA2, CA3 and CA4 which have more arginine or lysine at the N-terminal or C-terminal were designed and synthesized. The interaction of cecropin A (1–7) and its analogs with DNA was studied using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Multispectral analysis showed that basic amino acids improved the interaction between the analogues and DNA. The interaction between CA4 and DNA is most pronounced. Fluorescence spectrum indicated that Ksv value of CA4 is 1.19 × 105  L mol−1 compared to original peptide cecropin A (1–7) of 3.73 × 104  L mol−1. The results of antimicrobial experiments with cecropin A (1–7) and its analogues showed that basic amino acids enhanced the antimicrobial effect of the analogues. The antimicrobial activity of CA4 against E. coli was eightfold higher than that of cecropin A (1–7). The importance of basic amino acid in peptides is revealed and provides useful information for subsequent studies of antimicrobial peptides.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant Nos. 21708005, 21572046], Science and Technology Foundation of Henan Province [Grant No. 222102310545], Cultivation Programme for Young Backbone Teachers in Henan University of Technology [Grant No. 21420111] and National Pharmaceutical Care Foundation of China Medicine Education Association [Grant No. CMEAPC2023016]. We thank Figdraw (www.figdraw.com) for expert assistance in the graphical abstract drawing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People’s Republic of China

    Libo Yuan, Ke Wang, Xiujuan Xu, Yingcun Chen, Dongxin Zhao & Kui Lu

  2. Pharmacy Department, Zhengzhou People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, People’s Republic of China

    Yuan Fang

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  1. Libo Yuan
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Contributions

Libo Yuan: Supervision, Methodology, Writing—review and editing. Ke Wang: Methodology, Writing—original draft preparation. Yuan Fang: Supervision, Antimicrobial experiments. Xiujuan Xu: Peptides synthesis. Yingcun Chen: Peptides synthesis. Dongxin Zhao: Spectral data analysis. Kui Lu: Supervision, Writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to Libo Yuan, Yuan Fang or Kui Lu.

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Yuan, L., Wang, K., Fang, Y. et al. Interaction of Cecropin A (1–7) Analogs with DNA Analyzed by Multi-spectroscopic Methods. Protein J 43, 274–282 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10930-023-10177-7

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