Role of Aromatic Amino Acids in Lipopolysaccharide and Membrane Interactions of Antimicrobial Peptides for use in Plant Disease Control

• KYE28(KYEITTIHNLFRKLTHRLFRRNFGYTLR), the representative sequence  of helix D of heparin co-factor II, was demonstrated to be potent against agronomically important Gram-negative plant pathogens X. vesicatoria and X. oryzae,capable of inhibiting disease symptoms in detached tomato leaves. NMR studies in presence of lipopolysaccharide provided structural insights into the mechanisms underlying this, notably in relation to outer membrane permeabilisation. The three-dimensional solution structure of KYE28 in LPS is characterised by a N-ter helical segment, an intermediate loop and an extended C-ter. The two termini are in close proximity to each other via aromatic packing interactions, while the positively charged residues formed an exterior polar shell. To further demonstrate the importance of the aromatic residues for this, a mutant peptide KYE28A, with Ala substitutions at F11, F19, F23 and Y25 showed attenuated antimicrobial activity at high salt concentrations, as well as lower membrane disruption and LPS binding abilities compared to KYE28. In contrast to KYE28, KYE28A adopted an opened out helical structure in LPS with extended N- and C-ter and a small break in between the helical segments. Aromatic packing interactions were completely lost, although hydrophobic interaction between the side chains of hydrophobic residues were still partly retained, imparting an amphipathic character and explaining its residual antimicrobial activity and LPS binding as observed from ellipsometry and ITC. We thus present important structural aspects of KYE28, constituting an aromatic zipper, of potential importance, for the development of novel plant protection agents and therapeutic agents.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Strukturbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Structural Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

LPS

Antimicrobial

Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry

Farmaceutisk fysikalisk kemi

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