FIGURE 5.

Generalization of the concept of end tagging by hydrophobic amino acid stretches. A, antimicrobial activity as assessed by RDA against S. aureus of the indicated GKH17 peptides (at 50 μm) in the absence (open bars) or presence (black bars) of 0.15 m NaCl (mean values are presented, n = 3). * denotes no detectable clearance zone. B, analysis of hemolytic effects of peptides and comparison with LL-37. The cells were incubated with peptides at 60 μm, and 2% Triton X-100 served as positive control. The absorbance of hemoglobin release was measured at 550 nm and is expressed as a percentage of Triton X-100-induced hemolysis (mean values are presented, n = 3). C, hydrophobic modification of antimicrobial peptides from HB-EGF (GKR22) and amphiregulin (PKR21) increases their bactericidal activity. Antimicrobial activity of the indicated peptides was assessed by RDA against S. aureus at the indicated concentration (mean values are presented, n = 3).