LZ1 peptide

Product Name: LZ1 peptide

Cas No: 1423743-97-8

Purity: 95%

Storage: Keep in dark and cool dry place -5~8 degree Celsius

Sequence: VKRWKKWWRKWKKWV-NH2

Molar Mass: 2227.7

Chemical Formula: C113H167N33O15

Synonyms: orb2563739; HY-P10338; CS-1051170

IUPAC Name: (2S)-6-amino-N-[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-6-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-6-amino-1-[[(2S)-6-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-5-carbamimidamido-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl]-2-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-amino-3-methylbutanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-5-carbamimidamidopentanoyl]amino]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)propanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]hexanamide

SMILES: CC(C)[C@@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC1=CNC2=CC=CC=C21)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC3=CNC4=CC=CC=C43)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC5=CNC6=CC=CC=C65)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC7=CNC8=CC=CC=C87)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC9=CNC1=CC=CC=C19)C(=O)N[C@@H](C(C)C)C(=O)N)N

InChIKey: AEGLGCLRXLHQRT-YZCAGTBWSA-N

InChI: InChI=1S/C113H167N33O15/c1-65(2)95(120)111(161)140-87(44-20-26-52-119)100(150)136-89(46-28-54-127-113(124)125)105(155)142-91(56-68-61-129-78-35-11-6-30-73(68)78)107(157)138-82(39-15-21-47-114)98(148)133-84(41-17-23-49-116)103(153)143-93(58-70-63-131-80-37-13-8-32-75(70)80)109(159)145-92(57-69-62-130-79-36-12-7-31-74(69)79)108(158)139-88(45-27-53-126-112(122)123)101(151)135-85(42-18-24-50-117)102(152)141-90(55-67-60-128-77-34-10-5-29-72(67)77)106(156)137-83(40-16-22-48-115)99(149)134-86(43-19-25-51-118)104(154)144-94(110(160)146-96(66(3)4)97(121)147)59-71-64-132-81-38-14-9-33-76(71)81/h5-14,29-38,60-66,82-96,128-132H,15-28,39-59,114-120H2,1-4H3,(H2,121,147)(H,133,148)(H,134,149)(H,135,151)(H,136,150)(H,137,156)(H,138,157)(H,139,158)(H,140,161)(H,141,152)(H,142,155)(H,143,153)(H,144,154)(H,145,159)(H,146,160)(H4,122,123,126)(H4,124,125,127)/t82-,83-,84-,85-,86-,87-,88-,89-,90-,91-,92-,93-,94-,95-,96-/m0/s1

Application:

LZ1 Peptide is a short, bioactive peptide known for its strong soothing, purifying, and skin-protective properties. Originally studied for its antimicrobial activity, LZ1 is increasingly used in cosmetic research targeting blemish-prone and stressed skin. It helps support a clearer, calmer complexion by reducing the appearance of redness and reinforcing the skin’s natural defense mechanisms. With excellent stability and compatibility across gel and serum formats, LZ1 Peptide is ideal for formulations aimed at refining texture, promoting skin clarity, and enhancing overall resilience—making it a valuable ingredient for modern anti-blemish and skin-balancing skincare treatments.

Current Research:

LZ1 Peptide: Research Overview

LZ1 is a synthetic cationic antimicrobial peptide (AMP) originally designed as a 15–amino-acid derivative of a snake cathelicidin. It has the sequence Val–Lys–Arg–Trp–Lys–Lys–Trp–Trp–Arg–Lys–Trp–Lys–Lys–Trp–Val–NH?, a molecular weight of ~2228 Da and an isoelectric point around 12.05. The high content of lysine, arginine and tryptophan generates a strongly cationic, amphipathic α-helical structure typical of membrane-active AMPs.

Antimicrobial Spectrum

In vitro studies show that LZ1 has potent, broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, especially against Gram-positive organisms. It exhibits strong bactericidal effects on acne-associated pathogens including Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes), Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, with low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs).

Mechanistically, LZ1 behaves as a typical cationic AMP: the positively charged residues promote electrostatic interaction with negatively charged bacterial membranes, followed by insertion of the hydrophobic face of the α-helix, membrane permeabilization and disruption of integrity. LZ1 also shows activity against antibiotic-resistant strains, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and displays anti-biofilm effects and synergy with conventional antibiotics in some models.

Importantly, LZ1 demonstrates minimal hemolysis and low cytotoxicity at concentrations that are bactericidal: hemolytic activity toward human red blood cells is negligible, and human keratinocytes maintain high viability in the presence of peptide in vitro.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Beyond direct antimicrobial action, LZ1 exerts anti-inflammatory effects. In an inflammatory acne model, LZ1 reduces secretion of key pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), in response to C. acnes. This dual action—killing acne-related bacteria and attenuating inflammatory signaling—positions LZ1 as a useful probe for studying inflammatory pathways in acneiform conditions.

In systemic infection models, such as Plasmodium berghei–infected mice, LZ1 administration not only reduces parasitemia (see below) but also attenuates infection-associated inflammation and mitigates liver-function impairment, indicating broader immunomodulatory activity.

Antimalarial Mechanism

LZ1 has been characterized as an AMP with significant antimalarial activity. In vitro, it strongly suppresses the asexual blood stage of Plasmodium falciparum with an IC?? of 3.045 μM. In a mouse model infected with P. berghei, LZ1 reduces parasitemia and prolongs survival in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Mechanistic experiments using metabolic inhibitors demonstrate that LZ1 selectively inhibits ATP production in parasite-infected erythrocytes by targeting pyruvate kinase activity, while sparing uninfected red cells. This mode of action links LZ1 to disturbance of parasite glucose metabolism rather than nonspecific membrane lysis of host cells.

Safety, Stability and Biophysical Properties

LZ1 is described as highly stable in human plasma, maintaining activity during prolonged incubation. It shows very low hemolytic activity and negligible toxicity toward human keratinocytes at concentrations relevant for antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

Physicochemically, the peptide is a linear α-helical chain of 15 residues with multiple guanidinium (arginine) and ε-amino (lysine) groups and several indole (tryptophan) rings. This combination produces a stable amphipathic helix capable of strong membrane association and insertion, while the net positive charge (high pI) favors binding to negatively charged microbial surfaces. LZ1 is typically obtained as a white to off-white solid with purity ≥95–98% and is readily soluble in aqueous media.

Applications in Experimental Skin Biology

In cutaneous research, LZ1 is primarily used in models of inflammatory acne and infection-related skin inflammation. Its combined bactericidal and cytokine-suppressing activities against C. acnes and staphylococcal species make it a useful tool for dissecting the interplay between microbiota, innate immunity and keratinocyte responses in acne vulgaris and related disorders.

Vendor and technical literature also highlight potential use of LZ1 in broader skincare-oriented contexts, including formulations aimed at improving skin condition in the presence of acne-associated bacteria and inflammation, although these applications remain largely exploratory and are grounded in the peptide’s documented antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory profiles.

Summary

Overall, LZ1 is characterized as a 15-residue cationic antimicrobial peptide with:

strong activity against Gram-positive skin pathogens and some resistant strains,

negligible hemolysis and low keratinocyte cytotoxicity,

demonstrable anti-inflammatory effects via suppression of TNF-α and IL-1β, and

defined antimalarial activity mediated by inhibition of parasite pyruvate kinase and ATP production.

These properties make LZ1 a notable model AMP for studying antimicrobial, antimalarial and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in both infectious disease and skin-biology research.