Membrane permeabilization by multivalent anti-microbial peptides

Protein Pept Lett. 2009;16(7):736-42. doi: 10.2174/092986609788681841.

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMP's) are promising compounds in the battle against antibiotic resistant pathogens. Many AMP's function by interacting with the bacterial membrane and selectively permeabilizing it. Improvements are desired in the potency and the in vivo stability of the AMP's. Both aspects have been approached by the preparation of multivalent versions of AMP's that contain several copies of the peptide attached to a scaffold or core molecule. Both short and long sequences have been used and in selected cases major increases in antibacterial activity, membrane permeabilization potency and in vivo stability have been obtained.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology
  • Cell Membrane Permeability* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Sequence Data

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides