We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Rattusin structure reveals a novel defensin scaffold formed by intermolecular disulfide exchanges.
- Authors
Min, Hye Jung; Yun, Hyosuk; Ji, Sehyeon; Rajasekaran, Ganesan; Kim, Jae Il; Kim, Jeong-Sun; Shin, Song Yub; Lee, Chul Won
- Abstract
Defensin peptides are essential for innate immunity in humans and other living systems, as they provide protection against infectious pathogens and regulate the immune response. Here, we report the solution structure of rattusin (RTSN), an α-defensin-related peptide, which revealed a novel C2-symmetric disulfide-linked dimeric structure. RTSN was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and refolded by air oxidation in vitro. Dimerization of the refolded RTSN (r-RTSN) resulted from five intermolecular disulfide (SS) bond exchanges formed by ten cysteines within two protomer chains. The SS bond pairings of r-RTSN were determined by mass analysis of peptide fragments cleaved by trypsin digestion. In addition to mass analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments for a C15S mutant and r-RTSN confirmed that the intermolecular SS bond structure of r-RTSN showed an I-V', II-IV', III-III', IV-II', V-I' arrangement. The overall structure of r-RTSN exhibited a cylindrical array, similar to that of β-sandwich folds, with a highly basic surface. Furthermore, fluorescence spectroscopy results suggest that r-RTSN exerts bactericidal activity by damaging membrane integrity. Collectively, these results provide a novel structural scaffold for designing highly potent peptide-based antibiotics suitable for use under various physiological conditions.
- Publication
Scientific Reports, 2017, p45282
- ISSN
2045-2322
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/srep45282