Zwitterionic phospholipids and sterols modulate antimicrobial peptide-induced membrane destabilization.

ABSTRACT: Cationic amphipathic alpha-helical peptides preferentially disrupt anionic lipids in mixed model membranes, potentially causing a catastrophic release of the cell contents or attenuation of the membrane potential. The effective role of such peptides requires considerable discrimination between target and host cells, which is likely to occur at the level of the cell membrane. Here, we explore the roles of a variety of common membrane constituents in mediating the interaction between the antimicrobial peptide pleurocidin and model membranes. We employ intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and circular dichroism to observe the effect of increasing concentrations of sterol in the membrane on peptide binding, using (2)H solid-state NMR of chain deuterated lipids simultaneously to probe the effectiv

SUBMITTER: Mason AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2098721 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature