Structural and functional characterization of the porcine proline-rich antifungal peptide SP-B isolated from salivary gland granules

J Pept Sci. 2008 Mar;14(3):251-60. doi: 10.1002/psc.914.

Abstract

A 1905-Da cationic proline-rich peptide, named SP-B, was recently isolated by our group as the main component of salivary gland granules, and its primary sequence fully characterized by means of automated Edman sequencing and LC-MS/MS tools. In the present study SP-B is shown to possess antifungal activity when challenged with strains of Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, while only negligible antibacterial activity was detected. Furthermore, SP-B was found to be non-cytotoxic when tested on fibroblast cell lines. To obtain information regarding its structure affinity, capillary electrophoresis (CE), circular dichroism (CD) and attenuated total reflection (ATR)-FT/IR experiments were performed. CE revealed a pH dependence of the hydrodynamic radial dimensions both in aqueous and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol solutions. CD and ATR-FT/IR measurements confirmed the structure-pH relationship, revealing a secondary structure composed of mixed proportions of polyproline-II, unordered and turn motifs, the last being more evident in the zwitterionic form of the peptide. From these findings SP-B peptide could be classified as a new member of the proline-rich antimicrobial peptide family.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Enkephalins / chemistry
  • Enkephalins / isolation & purification
  • Enkephalins / pharmacology*
  • Proline / chemistry*
  • Protein Precursors / chemistry
  • Protein Precursors / isolation & purification
  • Protein Precursors / pharmacology*
  • Salivary Glands / chemistry*
  • Sus scrofa

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Enkephalins
  • Protein Precursors
  • peptide B
  • Proline