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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September 1998, p. 2160-2170, Vol. 42, No. 9
0066-4804/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Inhibitory Action of a Truncated Derivative of the Amphibian Skin Peptide Dermaseptin s3 on Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Peter J. Coote,1,* Caroline D. Holyoak,1 Dani Bracey,1 Dudley P. Ferdinando,2 and James A. Pearce1

Microbiology1 and Measurement Science2 Departments, Unilever Research, Colworth Laboratory, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom

Received 25 February 1998/Returned for modification 9 April 1998/Accepted 29 May 1998

The inhibitory activity of a truncated derivative of the natural amphibian skin peptide dermaseptin s3-(1-16)-NH2 [DS s3 (1-16)] against Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied. Significant growth inhibition was observed after exposure to 3.45 µg of the peptide per ml at pH 6.0 and 7.0, with complete growth inhibition occurring at 8.63 µg of peptide per ml for all pH values tested. Using confocal scanning laser microscopy, we have shown that DS s3 (1-16) disrupted the yeast cell membrane resulting in the gross permeabilization of the cell to the nuclear stain ethidium bromide. However, the principal inhibitory action of the peptide was not due to disruption of intracellular pH homeostasis. Instead, growth inhibition by the peptide correlated with the efflux of important cellular constituents such as ADP, ATP, RNA, and DNA into the surrounding medium. The combination of DS s3 (1-16) with mild heating temperatures as low as 35°C significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of the peptide (8.63 µg/ml), and at 45°C greater than 99% of the population was killed in 10 min. In summary, a derivative of a natural antimicrobial peptide has potential, either alone or in combination with mild heating, to prevent the growth of or kill spoilage yeast.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Microbiology Department, Unilever Research, Colworth Laboratory, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom. Phone: (44) 1234 222377. Fax: (44) 1234 222277. E-mail: peter.coote{at}unilever.com.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September 1998, p. 2160-2170, Vol. 42, No. 9
0066-4804/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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