Novel mitochondrial complex I-inhibiting peptides restrain NADH dehydrogenase activity.
Yao-Peng XueMou-Chieh KaoChung-Yu LanPublished in: Scientific reports (2019)
The emergence of drug-resistant fungal pathogens is becoming increasingly serious due to overuse of antifungals. Antimicrobial peptides have potent activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including fungi, and are considered a potential new class of antifungals. In this study, we examined the activities of the newly designed peptides P-113Du and P-113Tri, together with their parental peptide P-113, against the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The results showed that these peptides inhibit mitochondrial complex I, specifically NADH dehydrogenase, of the electron transport chain. Moreover, P-113Du and P-113Tri also block alternative NADH dehydrogenases. Currently, most inhibitors of the mitochondrial complex I are small molecules or artificially-designed antibodies. Here, we demonstrated novel functions of antimicrobial peptides in inhibiting the mitochondrial complex I of C. albicans, providing insight in the development of new antifungal agents.
Keyphrases
- candida albicans
- drug resistant
- oxidative stress
- biofilm formation
- multidrug resistant
- endothelial cells
- gram negative
- signaling pathway
- acinetobacter baumannii
- amino acid
- antimicrobial resistance
- staphylococcus aureus
- anti inflammatory
- induced pluripotent stem cells
- cystic fibrosis
- electron transfer
- pluripotent stem cells
- human health