The interaction of analogues of the antimicrobial lipopeptide, iturin A2, with alkali metal ions Original Research Article

Electrospray mass spectrometry was employed as a tool in this first study on the molecular interaction between the alkali metal ions and antifungal lipopeptide iturin A, and some analogues. Cationisation by sodium and signal intensity of lipopeptide species depended on sodium concentration, but was independent of sample solvent, carrier solvent polarity and sample pH between 4 and 11. 8-Beta, a linear analogue of iturin A2 (8-Beta; β-aminotetradecanoyl-NYNQPNS), and its shorter linear lipopeptide analogues, associated either one or two alkali metal cations, while the N→C cyclic peptides associated with only one cation. The chirality of the β-NC14 residue had a limited influence on the cationisation. It was observed that 8-Beta contained at least four interaction sites for a cation of which two, the C-terminal carboxylate and the side-chain of tyrosine, can take part in ionic interaction with a cation. It is proposed that the remaining two interaction centres of alkali metal ions are within the two type II β-turns found in conformation of natural iturin A. This was corroborated by the diminished capacity of the shorter peptides, in which one of the β-turns was eliminated to bind a second larger cation. All the lipopeptides showed the same order of alkali metal ion selectivity: Na+>K+>Rb+. These results indicated a size limitation in the interaction cavity or cavities. The absence of, or observation of only low abundance, di-cationised complexes of cyclic peptides the indicated association of the cation in the interior of the peptide ring. It is thus hypothesised that alkali metal ions can bind in one of the two β-turns in the natural iturin A molecule.