Comparison of synthesis and antibacterial activity of temporin A

Temporin A is a small, basic, highly hydrophobic, antibacterial peptide found in the skin of the European red frog, Rana temporaria. It was synthesized twice by the FastMoc solid phase method using amino acids protected at the N(alpha)-position with either 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl or 2-(4-nitrophenylsulfonyl)ethoxycarbonyl. The syntheses of temporin A demonstrates the difference between 2-(4-nitrophenylsulfonyl)ethoxycarbonyl and 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl amino acids. The purified peptide showed also antibacterial activity against clinically important gram-positive bacteria. It was found to have a moderately good activity against both methicillin resistant and sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus, but a weaker activity against vancomycin resistant strains of Enterococcus faecium.