ABSTRACT
The peptide temporin-LK1 (1) was obtained from the skin secretion of frog Limnonectes kuhlii (Ranidae). It is a unique antimicrobial peptide with 17 residues, including four L-phenylalanines and single glycine. Mass spectrometry and Edmand degradation were used for the determination of sequence of amino acids in temporin-LK 1 (1), and confirmed by cDNA cloning. We report here the synthesis and structural studies of temporin-LK1 (1) and its analogs 2–4. Peptides 2–4 were prepared by substitution of achiral glycine residue of temporin-LK1 (1) with D-alanine, L-phenylglycine, and L-naphthylalanine, respectively. Peptides 1–4 were evaluated against multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Analog 2 was found active against all MDR strains of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa at a much lower dose than the clinically used antibiotics.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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