Amphiphilic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides and their structure/function relationships

Protein Pept Lett. 2005 Jan;12(1):31-9. doi: 10.2174/0929866053406084.

Abstract

To facilitate microbial membrane invasion, amphiphilic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides (alpha-AMPs) show a spatial segregation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues about the alpha-helical long axis. Here we discuss potential mechanisms by which these peptides are able to disrupt membrane structure and the structural characteristics, which are required for function.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Surface-Active Agents