Abstract
The anticancer properties and mechanism of action of a hybrid peptide -P18 were investigated. It had significant cytotoxic activity against human melanoma cells and low toxicity to normal NIH-3T3 cells. It also induced cell death via necrosis rather than classical apoptosis. The peptide targets the cells membrane, causing a sustained depolarization of transmembrane potential resulting in the cells swelling and bursting, thereby triggering cytolysis. P18 peptide initially binds to the melanoma cell membrane via electrostatic interaction, causing the cell membrane to rupture. The effect may be mediated by the amphiphilic α-helical structure of P18 peptide, coupled with changes in ion channels and an increase in plasma membrane permeability that eventually leads to melanoma cell death.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported in part by National 985 Key Project of Sichuan University of the Education Ministry of China. Authors would like to thank Guizhi Du for his helpful discuss and critical reading during the manuscript preparation.
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Huang, W., Lu, L., Shao, X. et al. Anti-melanoma activity of hybrid peptide P18 and its mechanism of action. Biotechnol Lett 32, 463–469 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-009-0175-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-009-0175-2