Lin et al. examined the effects of lipid chains attached to N-terminal antimicrobial peptides, a type membrane-active on their membrane activity and bioactivity. The impact lipidation varied depending original peptides' hydrophobicity. By altering peptide conformations affecting self-aggregation behaviours, changed peptide-biomembrane interaction, ultimately bioactivity (e329).

Skin is complex and comprised of distinct layers, each layer with unique architecture and immunologic functions. Cells within these layers produce differing amounts of antimicrobial peptides and lipids (sphingoid bases and sebaceous fatty acids) that limit colonization of commensal and opportunistic microorganisms. Furthermore, antimicrobial peptides and lipids have distinct, concentration-depe...

Background It is well known that many bioactive peptides (intragenic) are encrypted in source proteins and that they can exert their function once released by proteolytic cleavage; e.g. hypotensive, opioids and antimicrobial peptides. However, other bioactive peptides may be “stuck” on a polipeptide chain with no cleavage sites for its release. These “non-obvious” intragenic peptides are also o...

Accurate classification of antimicrobial peptides according to their biological activities will facilitate the design of novel antimicrobial agents and the discovery of new therapeutic targets. In this work, an excellent algorithm of Increment of Diversity with Quadratic Discriminant analysis (IDQD) was proposed to classify antimicrobial peptides with diverse biological activities.

Staphylococcus aureus is a virulent pathogen that is responsible for a wide range of superficial and invasive infections. Its resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs is a global problem, and the development of novel antimicrobial agents is crucial. Antimicrobial peptides from natural resources offer potential as new treatments against staphylococcal infections. In the current study, we have ...

The disulfide-bridged hendecapeptide (CWTKSIPPKPC) loop, derived from an amphibian skin peptide, is found to have strong trypsin inhibitory capability. This loop, called the trypsin inhibitory loop (TIL), appears to be the smallest serine protease inhibitor known. A series of synthetic peptides derived from this loop also exhibits trypsin inhibitory activity; some peptides even exhibit both ant...

The mode of action of short, nonhelical antimicrobial peptides is still not well understood. Here we show that these peptides interact with ATP and directly inhibit the actions of certain ATP-dependent enzymes, such as firefly luciferase, DnaK, and DNA polymerase. α-Helical and planar or circular antimicrobial peptides did not show such interaction with ATP.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS To prevent bacterial adherence and translocation, the colonic mucosa is covered by a protecting mucus layer and the epithelium synthesizes antimicrobial peptides. The present qualitative study investigated the contents and interaction of these peptides in and with rectal mucus. METHODS Rectal mucus extracts were analyzed for antimicrobial activity and screened with matrix-...

The mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) inhabits high elevation lakes in California that are largely undisturbed by human activities. In spite of this habitation in remote sites, populations continue to decline. Although predation by non-native fish is one cause for declines, some isolated populations in fishless lakes are suffering new declines. One possible cause of the current wave of...