In vitro selection of functional lantipeptides

Abstract

In this report we present a method to identify functional artificial lantipeptides. In vitro translation coupled with an enzyme-free protocol for posttranslational modification allows preparation of more than 10 11 different lanthionine containing peptides. This diversity can be searched for functional molecules using mRNA-lantipeptide display. We validated this approach by isolating binders toward Sortase A, a transamidase which is required for virulence of Staphylococcus aureus. The interaction of selected lantipeptides with Sortase A is highly dependent on the presence of a (2S,6R)-lanthionine in the peptide and an active conformation of the protein. © 2012 American Chemical Society.