Evaluation of topologically distinct constrained antimicrobial peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short cationic peptides with a high affinity for membranes and emerged as a promising therapeutic approach with potential for treating infectious diseases. Chemical stabilization of short peptides proved to be a successful approach for enhancing their bio-physical properties. Herein, we designed and synthesized a panel of conformationally constrained antimicrobial peptides with either α-helical or β-hairpin conformation using templating strategies.

Chiral Sulfoxide-Induced Single Turn Peptide α-Helicity.

Inducing α-helicity through side-chain cross-linking is a strategy that has been pursued to improve peptide conformational rigidity and bio-availability. Here we describe the preparation of small peptides tethered to chiral sulfoxide-containing macrocyclic rings. Furthermore, a study of structure-activity relationships (SARs) disclosed properties with respect to ring size, sulfur position, oxidation state, and stereochemistry that show a propensity to induce α-helicity.

Constructing thioether-tethered cyclic peptides via on-resin intra-molecular thiol-ene reaction.

Thiol-ene reactions have been used in a variety of applications that mostly involve an inter-molecular pathway. Herein, we report a facile method to construct thioether-tethered cyclic peptides via an intra-molecular thiol-ene reaction. This reaction is efficient, selective, and has good residue compatibility.

A Thioether-Stabilized d-Proline-l-Proline-Induced β-Hairpin Peptide of Defensin Segment Increases Its Anti-Candida albicans Ability.

We report a β-hairpin dual stabilizing strategy: a d-proline-l-proline (d-Pro-l-Pro) dipeptide as the nucleating turn, and a thioether tether as a side-chain linkage at a precisely designed position to stabilize the β-hairpin. This method was used to modify the C-terminal β-hairpin moiety of the plant defensin, pv-defensin, in order to obtain a stabilized peptide with enhanced anti-Candida albicans activity (MIC 84-3.0 μm), high serum stability (50 % remaining after 48 h) and low hemolysis (<10 % at 152 μm).

Disulfide Bridges in Defensins.

Defensins are small cationic cysteine rich peptides, which usually contain 18-45 amino acids and possess amphiphilic properties. The term "defensin" was coined as the sequences of rabbit and human leukin/phagocytin molecules were first reported in 1985. Since then, various defensins were isolated and characterized from insects, plants and vertebrates.

Targeting MgrA-mediated virulence regulation in Staphylococcus aureus.

Increasing antibiotic resistance in human pathogens necessitates the development of new approaches against infections. Targeting virulence regulation at the transcriptional level represents a promising strategy yet to be explored. A global transcriptional regulator, MgrA in Staphylococcus aureus, was identified previously as a key virulence determinant.