Rational substitution of ε-lysine for α-lysine enhances the cell and membrane selectivity of pore-forming melittin.

Here we present a rational approach that enhances the membrane selectivity of a prolific pore-forming peptide, melittin, based on experimental observations that the cationic polymer, epsilon-polylysine, disrupts bacterial membrane with greater affinity over mammalian cells when compared to poly-L-lysine and poly-D-lysine. We systematically replaced 3 alpha-lysine residues in melittin with epsilon-lysine residues and identified key residues that are important for cytotoxicity. We then assessed the antimicrobial properties of modified peptides which carry 2 or 3 epsilon-lysyl residues. Two modified melittin peptides displayed rapid bactericidal properties against antibiotic-resistant strains, low innate resistance development by pathogenic bacteria, remained non-immunogenic for T-cell lymphocytes, and increased bioavailability in tear fluid. In proof-of-concept in vivo experiments, one of the peptides was non-cytotoxic for ocular surfaces and had comparable antimicrobial efficacy to that of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The results uncover a simple and potential strategy that can enhance the membrane selectivity of cytolytic peptides by epsilon-lysylation.