Abstract
Protegrins are small, arginine- and cysteine-rich, beta-sheet peptides with potent activity against bacteria, fungi, and certain enveloped viruses. We report that protegrins form weakly anion-selective channels in planar phospholipid bilayers, induce potassium leakage from liposomes and form moderately cation-selective channels in planar lipid membranes that contain bacterial lipopolysaccharide. The disruption of microbial membranes may be a central attribute related to the host defense properties of protegrins.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
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Electrochemistry
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In Vitro Techniques
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Ion Channels / chemistry*
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Ion Channels / drug effects
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Lipid Bilayers / chemistry
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Liposomes / chemistry
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Peptides / chemistry*
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Peptides / pharmacology
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Phospholipids / chemistry
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Proteins / chemistry
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Proteins / pharmacology
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
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Ion Channels
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Lipid Bilayers
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Liposomes
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Peptides
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Phospholipids
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Proteins
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protegrin-1
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protegrin-3