Anti-HIV-1 activity of a new scorpion venom peptide derivative Kn2-7

PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e34947. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034947. Epub 2012 Apr 19.

Abstract

For over 30 years, HIV/AIDS has wreaked havoc in the world. In the absence of an effective vaccine for HIV, development of new anti-HIV agents is urgently needed. We previously identified the antiviral activities of the scorpion-venom-peptide-derived mucroporin-M1 for three RNA viruses (measles viruses, SARS-CoV, and H5N1). In this investigation, a panel of scorpion venom peptides and their derivatives were designed and chosen for assessment of their anti-HIV activities. A new scorpion venom peptide derivative Kn2-7 was identified as the most potent anti-HIV-1 peptide by screening assays with an EC(50) value of 2.76 µg/ml (1.65 µM) and showed low cytotoxicity to host cells with a selective index (SI) of 13.93. Kn2-7 could inhibit all members of a standard reference panel of HIV-1 subtype B pseudotyped virus (PV) with CCR5-tropic and CXCR4-tropic NL4-3 PV strain. Furthermore, it also inhibited a CXCR4-tropic replication-competent strain of HIV-1 subtype B virus. Binding assay of Kn2-7 to HIV-1 PV by Octet Red system suggested the anti-HIV-1 activity was correlated with a direct interaction between Kn2-7 and HIV-1 envelope. These results demonstrated that peptide Kn2-7 could inhibit HIV-1 by direct interaction with viral particle and may become a promising candidate compound for further development of microbicide against HIV-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / toxicity
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / toxicity
  • Cell Line
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Scorpion Venoms / chemical synthesis
  • Scorpion Venoms / pharmacology*
  • Scorpion Venoms / toxicity

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Kn2-7 peptide
  • Scorpion Venoms