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Rational Design of RN15m4 Cathelin Domain-Based Peptides from Siamese Crocodile Cathelicidin Improves Antimicrobial Activity

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Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides are becoming a new generation of antibiotics due to their therapeutic potential and ability to decrease drug-resistant bacteria development. Cathelicidins are known as effective peptides of vertebrate immunity that play crucial roles in the defensive strategy against pathogens. To improve its potency, the RN15 antibacterial peptide derived from the cathelin domain of Crocodylus siamensis cathelicidin has been modified and its antimicrobial properties investigated. Peptides were derived by template-based and physicochemical designation. The RN15 derivative peptides were predicted through their structure modeling, antimicrobial potency, and peptide-membrane calculation. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of candidate peptides were investigated. Simultaneous consideration of physicochemical characteristics, secondary structure modeling, and the result of antimicrobial peptide tools prediction indicated that RN15m4 peptide was a candidate derivative antimicrobial peptide. The RN15m4 peptide expresses antimicrobial activity against most Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi with a lower minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) than the parent peptide. Besides, the time-killing assay shows that the designed peptide performed its ability to quickly kill bacteria better than the original peptide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displayed the destruction of the bacterial cell membrane caused by the RN15m4 peptide. In addition, the RN15m4 peptide exhibits low hemolytic activity and low cytotoxic activity as good as the template peptide. The RN15m4 peptide performs a range of antimicrobial activities with low cell toxicity. Our study has illustrated the combination approach to peptide design for potent antibiotic peptide discovery.

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Acknowledgements

This research was conducted at the Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, and Kalasin University.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and the Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) (TRG5880148).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Nisachon Jangpromma, Sakda Daduang, Sompong Klaynongsruang & Anupong Tankrathok

  2. Faculty of Science, Department of Integrated Science, Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Nisachon Jangpromma

  3. Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Monruedee Konkchaiyaphum, Sirinthip Sosiangdi & Sompong Klaynongsruang

  4. Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Kalasin University, 46000, Kalasin, Thailand

    Arpaporn Punpad & Anupong Tankrathok

  5. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy and Toxicology, Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Sakda Daduang

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  1. Nisachon Jangpromma
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  2. Monruedee Konkchaiyaphum
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  3. Arpaporn Punpad
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  4. Sirinthip Sosiangdi
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  7. Anupong Tankrathok
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Contributions

Nisachon Jangpromma analyzed the data. Monruedee Konkchaiyaphum, Arpaporn Punpad, and Sirinthip Sosiangdi performed the experimental work. Sakda Daduang and Sompong Klaynongsruang supervised the study. Anupong Tankrathok analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Anupong Tankrathok.

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Jangpromma, N., Konkchaiyaphum, M., Punpad, A. et al. Rational Design of RN15m4 Cathelin Domain-Based Peptides from Siamese Crocodile Cathelicidin Improves Antimicrobial Activity. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 195, 1096–1108 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-022-04210-1

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