Interactions of protamine with the marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. NCIMB 2021. (11th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pustam, A.; Smith, C.; Deering, C.; Grosicki, K.M.T.; Leng, T.Y.; Lin, S.; Yang, J.; Pink, D.; Gill, T.; Graham, L.; Derksen, D.; Bishop, C.; DeMont, M.E.; Wyeth, R.C.; Smith‐Palmer, T.
• Is Part Of: Letters in applied microbiology. Volume 58:Number 3(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 225
• Page End: 230
• Publication Date: 2013-11-11
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.62
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.12177
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-8254

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="lam12177-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="lam12177-sec-0101" sec-type="section"> <p> <italic>Pseudoalteromonas</italic> sp. NCIMB 2021 (NCIMB 2021) was grown in synthetic seawater (SSW) containing pyruvate, in the presence (SSW<sup>++</sup>) and absence (SSW<sup>–</sup>) of divalent cations. Cultures contained single cells. Addition of the cationic antibacterial peptide (CAP), protamine, did not inhibit, but rather increased, the growth of NCIMB 2021 in SSW<sup>++</sup> and caused the bacteria to grow in chains. Bacterial growth was assessed using turbidity, cell counts and the sodium salt of resazurin. In SSW<sup>−</sup>, NCIMB 2021 was no longer resistant to protamine. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 5 mg ml<sup>−1</sup>.</p> </sec> <sec id="lam12177-sec-0102" sec-type="section"> <title>Significance and Impact of the Study</title> <p>Protamine is a cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAP), which is active against a variety of bacteria. This is the first in‐depth study of the interaction of protamine with a marine bacterium, <italic>Pseudoalteromonas</italic> sp. NCIMB 2021. Our results show that protamine is only active in seawater in the absence of divalent cations. In the presence of the divalent cations, Mg<sup>2+</sup> and Ca<sup>2+</sup>, protamine enhances the growth of <italic>Pseudoalteromonas</italic> sp. NCIMB 2021 and produces chains rather than individual cells. These are important considerations when deciding on applications for protamine and in terms of understanding its mechanism of action.</p> </sec> </abstract>