Effect of fatty acid conjugation on antimicrobial peptide activity

Alexander F. Chu-Kung, Kristen N. Bozzelli, Nathan A. Lockwood, Matthew V. Tirrell

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two peptides, YGAA[KKAAKAA] 2 (AKK), and YG[AKAKAAKA] 2 (KAK) were conjugated with lauric acid and tested for the effect on their structure, antibacterial activity, and eukaryotic cell toxicity. Fatty acid conjugation resulted in an increased ability to permeabilize bacteria membranes for all the peptides. This corresponded to an increase in helical structure in the presence of bacteria-mimicking phospholipid vesicles. The increased ability to permeabilize membranes was accompanied by an increase in antimicrobial activity for the AKK peptide. Investigation into peptide structure in the presence of red blood cell-mimicking phospholipid vesicles show that neither the peptides, nor the fatty acid conjugated peptides have any significant helical structure. Neither the peptides or their fatty acid modified counterparts showed any significant hemolytic activity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberH4.2
Pages (from-to)271-279
Number of pages9
JournalMaterials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
VolumeEXS
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2004
Externally publishedYes
Event2003 MRS Fall Meeting - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: Dec 1 2003Dec 4 2003

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