The hydrophobicity in a chemically modified side-chain of cysteine residues of thanatin is related to antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus

Abstract

The chemically modified thanatins with the methyl group (CH3), ethyl group (C2H5), and normal-octyl group (C 8H17) at the side-chain of cysteine residues were synthesized. The octyl group modified form exhibited 8-fold higher antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus than wild type thanatin. It was found that there was an equilateral correlation between antimicrobial activity and side-chain hydrophobicity at the cysteine residues in thanatin.