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Structure and Function of Membrane-Lytic Peptides

Structure and Function of Membrane-Lytic Peptides This article reviews the membrane interactions of a variety of peptides including alamethicin, melittin, cecropins, magainins, and defensins. The biological activities of the peptides are discussed and correlated to results from biophysical and structural studies. A picture emerges that allows one to understand the mechanisms of lysis and the regulation of the peptides' activities. Specific peptide–lipid interactions are particularly important in the case of antibiotic peptides, which affect the functionality of bacterial membranes, fungal membranes, or both but leave the bilayers of higher organisms, including those of the host cells, intact. Several models are presented and discussed in view of the ensemble of experimental data. These include the barrel stave, the wormhole, the carpet, and the detergent-like model. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences Taylor & Francis

Structure and Function of Membrane-Lytic Peptides

Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences , Volume 23 (3): 22 – May 1, 2004
22 pages

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References (311)

Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN
1549-7836
eISSN
0735-2689
DOI
10.1080/07352680490452825
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This article reviews the membrane interactions of a variety of peptides including alamethicin, melittin, cecropins, magainins, and defensins. The biological activities of the peptides are discussed and correlated to results from biophysical and structural studies. A picture emerges that allows one to understand the mechanisms of lysis and the regulation of the peptides' activities. Specific peptide–lipid interactions are particularly important in the case of antibiotic peptides, which affect the functionality of bacterial membranes, fungal membranes, or both but leave the bilayers of higher organisms, including those of the host cells, intact. Several models are presented and discussed in view of the ensemble of experimental data. These include the barrel stave, the wormhole, the carpet, and the detergent-like model.

Journal

Critical Reviews in Plant SciencesTaylor & Francis

Published: May 1, 2004

Keywords: amphipathic peptide; polypeptide lipid interactions; peptide pore formation; phospholipid membrane; bilayer; regulation; selectivity; cecropin; magainin; melittin; alamethicin; dermaseptin; defensin; synergism

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