Prediction and Activity of a Cationic α-Helix Antimicrobial Peptide ZM-804 from Maize
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small molecules consisting of less than fifty residues of amino acids. Plant AMPs establish the first barrier of defense in the innate immune system in response to invading pathogens. The purpose of this study was to isolate new AMPs from the <i>Zea mays</i...
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/5/2643 |
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| author | Mohamed F. Hassan Abdelrahman M. Qutb Wubei Dong |
| author_facet | Mohamed F. Hassan Abdelrahman M. Qutb Wubei Dong |
| author_sort | Mohamed F. Hassan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small molecules consisting of less than fifty residues of amino acids. Plant AMPs establish the first barrier of defense in the innate immune system in response to invading pathogens. The purpose of this study was to isolate new AMPs from the <i>Zea mays</i> L. inbred line B73 and investigate their antimicrobial activities and mechanisms against certain essential plant pathogenic bacteria. In silico, the Collection of Anti-Microbial Peptides (CAMP<sub>R3</sub>), a computational AMP prediction server, was used to screen a cDNA library for AMPs. A ZM-804 peptide, isolated from the <i>Z. mays</i> L. inbred line B73 cDNA library, was predicted as a new cationic AMP with high prediction values. ZM-804 was tested against eleven pathogens of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and exhibited high antimicrobial activities as determined by the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). A confocal laser scanning microscope observation showed that the ZM-804 AMP targets bacterial cell membranes. SEM and TEM images revealed the disruption and damage of the cell membrane morphology of <i>Clavibacter michiganensis</i> subsp. michiganensis and <i>Pseudomonas syringae</i> pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 caused by ZM-804. In planta, ZM-804 demonstrated antimicrobial activity and prevented the infection of tomato plants by Pst DC3000. Moreover, four virulent phytopathogenic bacteria were prevented from inducing hypersensitive response (HR) in tobacco leaves in response to low ZM-804 concentrations. ZM-804 exhibits low hemolytic activity against mouse red blood cells (RBCs) and is relatively safe for mammalian cells. In conclusion, the ZM-804 peptide has a strong antibacterial activity and provides an alternative tool for plant disease control. Additionally, the ZM-804 peptide is considered a promising candidate for human and animal drug development. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-911da2dde38a41abb8581c6a0dc6404f2023-12-03T12:44:15ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-03-01225264310.3390/ijms22052643Prediction and Activity of a Cationic α-Helix Antimicrobial Peptide ZM-804 from MaizeMohamed F. Hassan0Abdelrahman M. Qutb1Wubei Dong2The Key Lab of Crop Disease Monitoring and Safety Control in Hubei Province, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaThe Key Lab of Crop Disease Monitoring and Safety Control in Hubei Province, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaThe Key Lab of Crop Disease Monitoring and Safety Control in Hubei Province, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small molecules consisting of less than fifty residues of amino acids. Plant AMPs establish the first barrier of defense in the innate immune system in response to invading pathogens. The purpose of this study was to isolate new AMPs from the <i>Zea mays</i> L. inbred line B73 and investigate their antimicrobial activities and mechanisms against certain essential plant pathogenic bacteria. In silico, the Collection of Anti-Microbial Peptides (CAMP<sub>R3</sub>), a computational AMP prediction server, was used to screen a cDNA library for AMPs. A ZM-804 peptide, isolated from the <i>Z. mays</i> L. inbred line B73 cDNA library, was predicted as a new cationic AMP with high prediction values. ZM-804 was tested against eleven pathogens of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and exhibited high antimicrobial activities as determined by the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). A confocal laser scanning microscope observation showed that the ZM-804 AMP targets bacterial cell membranes. SEM and TEM images revealed the disruption and damage of the cell membrane morphology of <i>Clavibacter michiganensis</i> subsp. michiganensis and <i>Pseudomonas syringae</i> pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 caused by ZM-804. In planta, ZM-804 demonstrated antimicrobial activity and prevented the infection of tomato plants by Pst DC3000. Moreover, four virulent phytopathogenic bacteria were prevented from inducing hypersensitive response (HR) in tobacco leaves in response to low ZM-804 concentrations. ZM-804 exhibits low hemolytic activity against mouse red blood cells (RBCs) and is relatively safe for mammalian cells. In conclusion, the ZM-804 peptide has a strong antibacterial activity and provides an alternative tool for plant disease control. Additionally, the ZM-804 peptide is considered a promising candidate for human and animal drug development.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/5/2643antimicrobial peptidemaizeAMP predictionCAMP<sub>R3</sub> databasebacteria pathogensplant protection |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed F. Hassan Abdelrahman M. Qutb Wubei Dong Prediction and Activity of a Cationic α-Helix Antimicrobial Peptide ZM-804 from Maize International Journal of Molecular Sciences antimicrobial peptide maize AMP prediction CAMP<sub>R3</sub> database bacteria pathogens plant protection |
| title | Prediction and Activity of a Cationic α-Helix Antimicrobial Peptide ZM-804 from Maize |
| title_full | Prediction and Activity of a Cationic α-Helix Antimicrobial Peptide ZM-804 from Maize |
| title_fullStr | Prediction and Activity of a Cationic α-Helix Antimicrobial Peptide ZM-804 from Maize |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prediction and Activity of a Cationic α-Helix Antimicrobial Peptide ZM-804 from Maize |
| title_short | Prediction and Activity of a Cationic α-Helix Antimicrobial Peptide ZM-804 from Maize |
| title_sort | prediction and activity of a cationic α helix antimicrobial peptide zm 804 from maize |
| topic | antimicrobial peptide maize AMP prediction CAMP<sub>R3</sub> database bacteria pathogens plant protection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/5/2643 |
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