Sequence and solution conformation of the 20-residue peptaibols, saturnisporins SA II and SA IV.

Saturnisporins SA II and SA IV are the major components of the 20-residue peptaibol mixture isolated from a culture of the fungus Trichoderma saturnisporum. These peptides exhibit antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Their sequences were derived from unequivocal methodology implying the combined use of positive ion FAB mass spectrometry and NMR: the majority of the sequences result from mass spectrometry fragmentations and the location of isomeric residues arises either from analysis of ROESY cross-peaks between contiguous amide protons or from heteronuclear 2J or 3J 1H-13C couplings detected in long-range 1H-13C COSY experiments. The sequence specific 1H and 13C NMR assignments are described. Saturnisporins SA II and SA IV exhibit similar secondary structures, as deduced from their ROESY patterns and 3JNHC alpha H coupling constant values, together with amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange rates and temperature coefficients of amide and carbonyl groups. An overall alpha-helical structure is proposed, maintaining two regions of distortion to this regular structure; i) the N-terminal part, which contains 3(10) and mixed alpha-3(10) turns, and ii) the Aib10-Val15 region, including a Pro residue which accommodates a bend stabilized by two 3(10) H-bonds.