Expression of Antibacterial Cationic Peptides from Methylotrophic Yeast, Pichia pastoris

Antimicrobial cationic peptides have attracted increasing research and clinical interest as a natural antibiotics due to their broad spectrum of antimicrobial activites and the rapid development of multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, first, we synthesized artificial fusion partner and cationic peptide genes (lactoferricin, magainin, protegrin-1, and indolicidin). Second, we constructed recombinant expression vectors and then transformed Pichia pastoris. Finally, expressed cationic peptides were purified and tested for their antimicrobial activites. Antimicrobial activity has been tested upon the appearance of clearing zone on the plate with the lawn of gram negative E.coli XL- I blue and garm positive Staphylococcus aureus. Protegrin-1 and Indolicidin have apparant activity of cationic peotides. This fusion technique may lead to a general and suitable tool for production of pure antimicrobial cationic peptides in Pichia pastoris.