A novel single-domain peptide, anti-LPS factor from prawn: Synthesis of peptide, antimicrobial properties and complete molecular characterization

• Published in: Peptides (New York, N.Y. : 1980) N.Y. : 1980), 2014-03, Vol.53, p.79-88
• Main Authors: Arockiaraj, Jesu, Kumaresan, Venkatesh, Bhatt, Prasanth, Palanisamy, Rajesh, Gnanam, Annie J., Pasupuleti, Mukesh, Kasi, Marimuthu, Chaurasia, Mukesh Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aeromonas hydrophila; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-lipopolysaccharide; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial peptide; Bacteria; Baculovirus; Binding; Bioinformatics; Escherichia coli; Gene expression; Hemolysis; Hemolysis - drug effects; Lipopolysaccharides - antagonists & inhibitors; Macrobrachium rosenbergii; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Palaemonidae - chemistry; Pathogen; Peptides; Peptides - chemistry; Peptides - genetics; Peptides - pharmacology; Phylogeny; Prawn; Prawns; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Synthesis
• ISSN: 0196-9781; 1873-5169
• DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2013.11.008

•A peptide synthesized from prawn anti-LPS factor.•The peptide contains antimicrobial activity against Gram −ve and +ve bacteria.•The peptide binds to the LPS component of the bacterial cell wall.•MrALF peptide possessed the ability of hemolysis.•MrALF expression was up-regulated by virus and bacteria in hemocytes. In this study, we reported a complete molecular characterization including bioinformatics features, gene expression, peptide synthesis and its antimicrobial activities of an anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) factor (ALF) cDNA identified from the established cDNA library of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (named as MrALF). The mature protein has an estimated molecular weight of 11.240kDa with an isoelectric point of 9.46. The bioinformatics analysis showed that the MrALF contains an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) region between T54 and P77 with two conserved cysteine residues (Cys55 and Cys76) which have an anti-parallel β-sheet confirmation. The β-sheet is predicted as cationic with hydrophobic nature containing a net charge of +5. The depicted AMP region is determined to be amphipathic with a predicted hydrophobic face ‘FPVFI’. A highest MrALF gene expression was observed in hemocytes and is up-regulated with virus [white spot syndrome baculovirus (WSBV)], bacteria (Aeromonas hydrophila) and Escherichia coli LPS at various time points. The LPS binding region of MrALF peptide was synthesized to study the antimicrobial property, bactericidal efficiency and hemolytic capacity. The peptide showed antimicrobial activity against both the Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The bactericidal assay showed that the peptide recognized the LPS of bacterial cell walls and binding on its substrate and thereby efficiently distinguishing the pathogens. The hemolytic activity of MrALF peptide is functioning in a concentration dependant manner. In summary, the comprehensive analysis of MrALF showed it to be an effective antimicrobial peptide and thus it plays a crucial role in the defense mechanism of M. rosenbergii.