Title
Bee venom-derived antimicrobial peptide melectin has broad-spectrum potency, cell selectivity, and salt-resistant properties
Author
Su Jin Ko, Eunji Park, Alina Asandei, Jee-Young Choi, Seung-Chul Lee, Chang Ho Seo, Tudor Luchian, Yoonkyung Park
Year
2020
Journal
Scientific Reports
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides have attracted attention as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Previously, a novel antimicrobial peptide, melectin, consisting of 18 amino acids was isolated from the venom of a bee, Melecta albifrons. Here, we investigated the antibacterial activity of melectin against drug-resistant bacteria. Melectin showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity but low cytotoxicity and no hemolytic activity. Melectin maintained its antimicrobial activity at physiological salt concentrations. Melectin is an α-helical structure that binds to the bacterial membrane via electrostatic interactions and kills bacteria in a short time by bacterial membrane targeting. Collectively, our results suggest that melectin has antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory activity.
Full Article
Instrument
J-810
Keywords
Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Ligand binding, Membrane interactions, Biochemistry