Design of dermaseptin S3 analogues having bacterial cell selectivity without mammalian cell toxicity

Abstract

Dermaseptin S3 (DS3) is a alpha -helical antimicrobial peptide isolated from the South American frogs Phyllomedusa sauvagii. Insertion of Gly-Pro sequence into DS3 resulted in a drastic reduction in the mammalian cell toxicity against human red blood and normal fibroblast cells, with retention of the antibacterial activity. The results indicated that the bend created by insertion of Gly-Pro in the continuous alpha -helical peptide plays an important role in providing high selectivity against bacterial cells without mammalian cell toxicity.