Simple oligomers as antimicrobial peptide mimics.

TitleSimple oligomers as antimicrobial peptide mimics.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsRennie J, Arnt L, Tang H, Nüsslein K, Tew GN
JournalJ Ind Microbiol Biotechnol
Volume32
Issue7
Pagination296-300
Date Published2005 Jul
ISSN1367-5435
KeywordsAmides, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Gram-Negative Bacteria, Gram-Positive Bacteria, Inhibitory Concentration 50, Peptides, Protein Conformation
Abstract

New approaches to antibiotic design are desperately needed. The design of simple oligomers that capture the shape and biological function of natural antimicrobial peptides could prove to be versatile and highly successful. We discuss the use of aromatic backbones to design facially amphiphilic (FA) beta-sheet like structures which are potently antimicrobial. These oligomers capture the physiochemical properties of peptides like the Magainins and Defensins, which fold into specific conformations that are amphiphilic resulting in antimicrobial activity. However, natural peptides are expensive to prepare and difficult to produce on large scale. The design of polymers and oligomers that mimic the complex structures and remarkable biological properties of proteins is an important endeavor and provides attractive alternatives to the difficult synthesis of natural peptides. We therefore have designed a series of FA oligomers that are easy to prepare from inexpensive monomers. They adopt structures very reminiscent of amphiphilic beta-sheets and have significant activity with minimal inhibitory concentrations at 6 h in the low microgram per ml range (muM to nM). They are active against a broad spectrum of bacteria including gram-positive and gram-negative as well as antibiotic resistant strains.

DOI10.1007/s10295-005-0219-0
Alternate JournalJ. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol.
PubMed ID15959729