Isolation and identification of pelteobagrin, a novel antimicrobial peptide from the skin mucus of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)

Fish skin mucus has recently been recognized to be a potential source of antimicrobial peptides, which provides the first line of defense against invading pathogens. This study reports the purification and characterization of a novel linear antimicrobial peptide, pelteobagrin, from the skin mucus of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Richardson). Pelteobagrin is 20 amino acids in length (GKLNLFLSRLEILKLFVGAL) and shows no clear homology with any known bioactive peptides. MALDI-TOF MS indicated the molecular mass of the purified peptide was 2244.4 Da, which is in good agreement with pelteobagrin's predicted molecular weight of 2244.8 Da. Pelteobagrin exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi, and the activity was relatively salt-insensitive as it was not affected by NaCl concentrations of up to 137 mM. Moreover, pelteobagrin displayed no hemolytic activity to rabbit red blood cells. Transmission electron microscopy suggested that pelteobagrin might kill bacteria via acting on both the cell wall and the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. These results suggest that pelteobagrin might be involved in the innate defense system in yellow catfish.