Plant Defensins from a Structural Perspective

Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jul 26;21(15):5307. doi: 10.3390/ijms21155307.

Abstract

Plant defensins form a family of proteins with a broad spectrum of protective activities against fungi, bacteria, and insects. Furthermore, some plant defensins have revealed anticancer activity. In general, plant defensins are non-toxic to plant and mammalian cells, and interest in using them for biotechnological and medicinal purposes is growing. Recent studies provided significant insights into the mechanisms of action of plant defensins. In this review, we focus on structural and dynamics aspects and discuss structure-dynamics-function relations of plant defensins.

Keywords: NMR; antibacterial; antifungal; dimer; dynamics; oligomer; plant defensin; structure; x-ray; γ-core.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
  • Defensins / chemistry*
  • Defensins / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Plant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Plants / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Defensins
  • Plant Proteins