Effects of arginine and leucine substitutions on anti-endotoxic activities andmechanisms of action of cationic and amphipathic antimicrobial octadecapeptide from rice α-amylase

Previously, we showed that the antimicrobial cationic and amphipathic octadecapeptide AmyI-1-18 from rice a-amylase (AmyI-1) inhibited the endotoxic activity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli. In addition, we demonstrated that several AmyI1-18 analogs containing arginine or leucine substitutions, which were designed on the basis of the helical wheel projection of AmyI-1-18, exhibited higher antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic microorganisms than AmyI-1-18. In the present study, anti-inflammatory (anti-endotoxic) activities of five AmyI-1-18 analogs containing arginine or leucine substitutions were investigated. Two single arginine-substituted and two single leucine-substituted AmyI-1-18 analogs inhibited the production of LPS-induced nitric oxide in mouse macrophages (RAW264) more effectively than AmyI-1-18. These data indicate that enhanced cationic and hydrophobic properties of AmyI-1-18 are associated with improved anti-endotoxic activity. In subsequent chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate assays, 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the three AmyI-1-18 analogs (G12R, D15R, and E9L) were 0.11-0.13 mu M, indicating higher anti-endotoxic activity than that of AmyI-1-18 (IC50, 0.22 mu M), and specific LPS binding activity. In agreement, surface plasmon resonance analyses confirmed direct LPS binding of three AmyI-1-18 analogs. In addition, AmyI-1-18 analogs exhibited little or no cytotoxic activity against RAW264 cells, indicating that enhancements of antiinflammatory and LPS-neutralizing activities following replacement of arginine or leucine did not result in significant increases in cytotoxicity. This study shows that the arginine-substituted and leucine-substituted AmyI-1-18 analogs with improved antiendotoxic and antimicrobial activities have clinical potential as dual-function host defense agents. Copyright (C) 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.