Antimicrobial activity and mechanism of action of a novel cationic α-helical octadecapeptide derived from heat shock protein 70 of rice

- Hsp70(241-258), a partial sequence of heat shock protein derived from rice, is a novel cationic α-helical peptide.
- Hsp70(241-258) exhibited antimicrobial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Candida albicans.
- The IC50 values were 63 μM and 70 μM for P. gingivalis and C. albicans, respectively.
- Hsp70(241-258) has neither hemolytic activity nor cytotoxicity.
- Hsp70(241-258) appears to exhibited antimicrobial activity through disruption of cell membranes.