Antibacterial activity of peptides homologous to a loop region in human lactoferrin.

Human lactoferrin contains a 46 residue sequence named lactoferricin H thought to be responsible for its antimicrobial properties. Synthetic peptides HLT1, corresponding to the loop region of human lactoferricin (FQWQR-NMRKVRGPPVS) and HLT2, corresponding to its charged portion (FQWQRNMRKVR), exerted significant antibacterial effects against E. coli serotype O111 strains NCTC 8007 and ML35. The corresponding sequences in native human lactoferrin were shown to adopt a charged helix and hydrophobic tail within the N-lobe remote from the iron binding site. Sequence similarities between lactoferricin and dermaseptin and magainins suggest that lactoferricin may act as an amphipathic alpha helix.