Cationic hylin bioactive peptides from Boana pulchella (Anura: Hylidae): Activity, structure, and interaction with lipid membranes

Abstract

Amphibians are an important source of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are an essential component of their innate immune system contributing to the neutralization or elimination of microorganisms. Each species produces its own set of AMPs.The primary mechanism of action of AMPs typically involves nonspecific electrostatic interactions with bacterial membranes, and proceeds through the aggregation of AMPs in the bacterial membrane, affecting its integrity and leading to cell death. The Boana genus is one of the most species-rich clades of the hylid family with a widespread distribution in South America [3]. It has been poorly studied in terms of its AMP profile. To our knowledge, no research has explored the potential mechanism of action of AMPs from Boana spp., with the exception of some analogs. Based on our results, the possible mechanism of action of these novel molecules and the importance of environmental polarity were discussed.