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Plectasin:A peptide antibiotic with therapeutic potential from a saprophytic fungusPlectasin:A peptide antibiotic with therapeutic potential from a saprophytic fungus
Structural highlights
FunctionDEFPL_PSENR Antimicrobial peptide that potently acts against several species of Gram-positive bacteria (PubMed:16222292, PubMed:19472324). It selectively inhibits peptidoglycan biosynthesis through complex formation with the cell wall precursor lipid II (1:1 molar ratio) thus inhibiting cell wall synthesis (PubMed:20508130). It does not disrupt cell membranes (PubMed:20508130). Is especially active against numerous clinical isolates of S.pneumoniae, including all 90 different serotypes and isolates resistant to clinically used antibiotics (PubMed:16222292). In vitro, shows considerable selectivity for bacteria over mammalian cells (PubMed:16222292). The peptide synthesized in D-amino acids does not show antibacterial activity (PubMed:19472324). In vitro, acts on voltage-gated potassium channels by moderately inhibiting mammalian Kv1.3/KCNA3 (IC(50)=2.8 uM), and moderately inhibiting others potassium channels (PubMed:25568977).[1] [2] Publication Abstract from PubMedAnimals and higher plants express endogenous peptide antibiotics called defensins. These small cysteine-rich peptides are active against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Here we describe plectasin-the first defensin to be isolated from a fungus, the saprophytic ascomycete Pseudoplectania nigrella. Plectasin has primary, secondary and tertiary structures that closely resemble those of defensins found in spiders, scorpions, dragonflies and mussels. Recombinant plectasin was produced at a very high, and commercially viable, yield and purity. In vitro, the recombinant peptide was especially active against Streptococcus pneumoniae, including strains resistant to conventional antibiotics. Plectasin showed extremely low toxicity in mice, and cured them of experimental peritonitis and pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae as efficaciously as vancomycin and penicillin. These findings identify fungi as a novel source of antimicrobial defensins, and show the therapeutic potential of plectasin. They also suggest that the defensins of insects, molluscs and fungi arose from a common ancestral gene. Plectasin is a peptide antibiotic with therapeutic potential from a saprophytic fungus.,Mygind PH, Fischer RL, Schnorr KM, Hansen MT, Sonksen CP, Ludvigsen S, Raventos D, Buskov S, Christensen B, De Maria L, Taboureau O, Yaver D, Elvig-Jorgensen SG, Sorensen MV, Christensen BE, Kjaerulff S, Frimodt-Moller N, Lehrer RI, Zasloff M, Kristensen HH Nature. 2005 Oct 13;437(7061):975-80. PMID:16222292[3] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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