Evaluation of antibacterial effect of antimicrobial peptide D28 and its dimeric analogs

The major aim of this study was synthesis and assay of antimicrobial activity of peptide D28 and its new analogues derivatives as dimeric peptides.

Three antimicrobial peptides known as D28, Di-D28-Lys,Di-Cys-D28 including 20, 41, 42 residues were synthesized respectively. For peptide synthesis, solid phase peptide synthesis method using blocked amino acids with flourenyl methoxy carbonyl group and for peptide purification HPLC were used. Peptides compositions were confirmed by amino acid analysis and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. Antimicrobial tests against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were performed as disk and well diffusion on plate and by adding to liquid broth culture (Broth macrodilution) in different concentrations.

Three required peptides (D28, Di-D28-Lys, Di-Cys-D28) successfully were synthesized. All three peptides were effective against S. aureus, but Di-Cys-D28 on the contrary to two other ones, showed no antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa. The inhibitory activity of Di-D28-Lys against P. aeruginosa was more than that of D28 peptide.

Improvement of antimicrobial peptides activity through dimerization depends on the methods of dimerization and the strain of bacterium. Di-D28-Lys peptide in comparison with D28 and Di-Cys-D28 showed wide range and more antimicrobial activity. Therefore, Di-D28-Lys peptide could be a suitable antibiotic candidate for future studies.