Evaluation of glycyl-arginine and lysyl-aspartic acid dipeptides for their antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticancer potentials

• Published in: Archives of microbiology 2023-11, Vol.205 (12), p.365-365, Article 365
• Main Authors: Sevim Akan, Handan, Şahal, Gülcan, Karaca, Tuğçe Deniz, Gürpınar, Özer Aylin, Maraş, Meltem, Doğan, Alev
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; antibiotic resistance; Arginine; Aspartic acid; Biochemistry; Biofilms; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Cancer; Candida tropicalis; Cell Biology; Cell viability; Chemical synthesis; Clinical isolates; Clinical trials; Cytotoxicity; Dilution; dipeptides; Drug development; Ecology; Gentian violet; human cell lines; Immunomodulation; Life Sciences; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Microorganisms; neoplasms; Original Paper; Peptides; Proteus mirabilis; Staphylococcus epidermidis; toxicity testing; Tumor cells; Wound healing
• ISSN: 0302-8933; 1432-072X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03724-4

Antibacterial resistance and cancer are worldwide challenges and have been defined as major threats by international health organizations. Peptides are produced naturally by all organisms and have a variety of immunomodulatory, physiological, and wound-healing properties. They can also provide protection against microorganisms and tumor cells. Therefore, we aimed to determine the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticancer potentials of Glycyl-Arginine and Lysyl-Aspartic acid dipeptides. The Broth Dilution and Crystal Violet Binding assays assessed the antimicrobial tests and biofilm inhibitory effects. The MTT assay was used to measure the cytotoxic effects of dipeptides on HeLa cell viability. According to our results, Candida tropicalis T26 and Proteus mirabilis U15 strains were determined as more resistant to Staphylococcus   epidermidis W17 against Glycyl-Arginine and Lysyl-Aspartic acid dipeptides with MICs higher than 2 mM (1 mg/mL). Sub-MICs of Glycyl-Arginine caused inhibitions against biofilm formation of all the tested clinical isolates, with the highest inhibition observed against S. epidermidis W17. Lysyl-Aspartic acid exhibited zero to no effect against biofilm formation of P. mirabilis U15, and S. epidermidis W17, whereas it exhibited 52% inhibition of biofilm formation of C. tropicalis T26. Cell viability results revealed that HeLa cell viability decreases with increasing concentration of both dipeptides. Also, parallel to antimicrobial tests, Glycyl-Arginine has a greater cytotoxic effect compared to Lysyl-Aspartic acid. The findings from this study will contribute to the advancement of novel strategies involving dipeptide-based synthesizable molecules and drug development studies. However, it is essential to note that there are still challenges, including the need for extensive experimental and clinical trials.