Crystal state conformation of three model monomer units for the β-bend ribbon structure

The molecular and crystal structures of three compounds, representing the repeating units of the β-bend ribbon (an approximate 3₁₀-helix, with an intramolecular hydrogen-bonding donor every two residues), have been determined by x-ray diffraction. They are Boc-Aib-Hib-NHBzl, Z-Aib-Hib-NHBzl, and Z-L -Hyp-Aib-NHMe (Aib, α-aminoisobutyric acid; Bzl, benzyl; Boc, t-butyloxycarbonyl; Hyp, hydroxyproline Hib, α-hydroxyisobutyric acid; Z, benzyloxycarbonyl). The two former compounds are folded in a β-bend conformation: type III (III′) for Boc-Aib-Hib-NHBzl, while type II (II′) for the Z analogue. Conversely, the structure of Z-L -Hyp-Aib-NHMe, although not far from a type II β-bend, is partially open.     

Letters to the editor: Correlation of conformation and biological activity in lysozyme "loop" homologs

Ten synthetic homologs of the loop region of lysozyme (residues 64 to 82), in which one or two ammo acid residues were replaced by alanine, have been prepared, and their antigenic reactivity was assessed by their capacity to bind to anti-loop antibodies. The results of these binding activities were compared with the computed changes in probability of β-bend occurrence, based on statistical analysis relating the conformation to amino acid sequence. For most of the peptides tested the antigenic activity correlated well with the relative probability of β-bend formation. The activities were lower than the predicted values when the substitution with alanine caused also a disruption of a hydrogen bond.It thus appears that both the β-bend structural feature and hydrogen bonding are involved in the antigenic activity of the conformation-dependent lysozyme loop.     

Structural changes of human RNase L upon homodimerization investigated by Raman spectroscopy

RNase L, a key enzyme in the host defense system, is activated by the binding of 2'-5'-linked oligoadenylates (2-5A) to the N-terminal ankyrin repeat domain, which causes the inactive monomer to form a catalytically active homodimer. We focused on the structural changes of human RNase L as a result of interactions with four different activators: natural 2-5 pA(4) and three tetramers with 3'-end AMP units replaced with ribo-, arabino- and xylo-configured phosphonate analogs of AMP (pA(3)X). The extent of the RNase L dimerization and its cleavage activity upon binding of all these activators were similar. A drop-coating deposition Raman (DCDR) spectroscopy possessed uniform spectral changes upon binding of all of the tetramers, which verified the same binding mechanism. The estimated secondary structural composition of monomeric RNase L is 44% α-helix, 28% β-sheet, 17% β-turns and 11% of unordered structures, whereas dimerization causes a slight decrease in α-helix and increase in β-sheet (ca. 2%) content. The dimerization affects at least three Tyr, five Phe and two Trp residues. The α-β structural switch may fix domain positions in the hinge region (residues ca. 336-363) during homodimer formation.     

A highly active chemotactic peptide analog incorporating the unusual residue 1-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid at position 2

Analogs of chemotactic peptides (Formyl-Met-X-Phe-OMe) containing the stereochemically constrained residues alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), 1-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (Acc5) and 1-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (Acc6) at position 2 are compared with the parent sequence (X = Leu) for their ability to induce lysozyme release in rabbit neutrophils. The Acc6 analog is about 78 times more active than the parent peptide, For-Met-Leu-Phe-OH, whereas Aib and Acc5 analogs are approximately 3 and 2 times, respectively, less active than the parent peptide. NMR and model building studies clearly favour a Met-Acc6 beta-turn solution conformation in the Acc6 analog, suggesting that the neutrophil receptor is capable of recognizing a folded peptide structure. The significant differences in the activities of the Acc5 and Acc6 analogs suggest an important role for the residue 2 sidechain in receptor interactions.     

Solvent accessibility studies of β-bends and application to cyclic hexapeptides

The solvent-accessible surface areas (ASAs), of the atoms in tripeptides around the minimum-energy conformations of the β-bend types I, I′, II, and II′ have been computed as a first step in the systematic solvent accessibiity study of secondary structures. The side chains chosen at the two middle positions of the bend are L -Ala, D -Ala, and Gly. The ASAs of the hydrogen atoms are reported here and are found useful in determining the type of β-bends in six examples of cyclic hexapeptides whose crystal structures are known. Comparison with observation showed that all the β-bends in these cyclic hexapeptides were correctly identified by the present method. This points to a possible use of the method in identifying β-bend types in solution.     

Studies of peptide antibiotics. XLVI. Syntheses of gramicidin S analogs containing D-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid or alpha,beta-dehydroalanine

A gramicidin S (GS) analog ([D-Dpr4,4'] GS) containing D-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid (D-Dpr) in place of D-Phe at 4,4' positions was derived from [L-Orn(delta-formyl)2,2', D-Dpr(beta-Z)4,4']GS, which was synthesized by conventional method in solution. An analog [delta Ala4,4']GS was synthesized from [L-Orn(delta-Boc)2,2', D-Dpr4,4']GS through Hofmann degradation of the D-Dpr residues. Antimicrobial activities of these analogs were tested; [D-Dpr(beta-Z)4,4']GS and [delta Ala4,4']GS showed high antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria. [D-Dpr4,4']-GS showed an appreciable activity against Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Four semigramicidin S (semiGS) analogs such as [delta Ala4]semiGS were synthesized; these had no antimicrobial activity. Analogs containing delta Ala residues were hydrogenated, and the formation of L-Ala or D-Ala residues was determined. The delta Ala residues in [delta Ala4,4'] GS were reduced to DL-Ala, and delta Ala in [delta Ala4]semiGS mostly to L-Ala. The relationships of the antimicrobial activity, CD curves and asymmetric hydrogenation to the structure were discussed.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of antimicrobial activity of N-terminal modified Leucocin A analogues

Class IIa bacteriocins are potent antimicrobial peptides produced by lactic acid bacteria to destroy competing microorganisms. The N-terminal domain of these peptides consists of a conserved YGNGV sequence and a disulphide bond. The YGNGV motif is essential for activity, whereas, the two cysteines involved in the disulphide bond can be replaced with hydrophobic residues. The C-terminal region has variable sequences, and folds into a conserved amphipathic α-helical structure. To elucidate the structure–activity relationship in the N-terminal domain of these peptides, three analogues (1–3) of a class IIa bacteriocin, Leucocin A (LeuA), were designed and synthesized by replacing the N-terminal β-sheet residues of the native peptide with shorter β-turn motifs. Such replacement abolished the antibacterial activity in the analogues, however, analogue 1 was able to competitively inhibit the activity of native LeuA. Native LeuA (37-mer) was synthesized using native chemical ligation method in high yield. Solution conformation study using circular dichroism spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the C-terminal region of analogue 1 adopts helical folding as found in LeuA, while the N-terminal region did not fold into β-sheet conformation. These structure–activity studies highlight the role of proper folding and complete sequence in the activity of class IIa bacteriocins.     

Formation of vesicles through solvent assisted self-assembly of hydrophobic pentapeptides: encapsulation and pH responsive release of dyes by the vesicles

In the biomimetic design two hydrophobic pentapetides Boc-Ile-Aib-Leu-Phe-Ala-OMe (I) and Boc-Gly-Ile-Aib-Leu-Phe-OMe (II) (Aib: α-aminoisobutyric acid) containing one Aib each are found to undergo solvent assisted self-assembly in methanol/water to form vesicular structures, which can be disrupted by simple addition of acid. The nanovesicles are found to encapsulate dye molecules that can be released by the addition of acid as confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and UV studies. The influence of solvent polarity on the morphology of the materials generated from the peptides has been examined systematically, and shows that fibrillar structures are formed in less polar chloroform/petroleum ether mixture and vesicular structures are formed in more polar methanol/water. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal that while β-sheet mediated self-assembly leads to the formation of fibrillar structures, the solvated β-sheet structure leads to the formation of vesicular structures. The results demonstrate that even hydrophobic peptides can generate vesicular structures from polar solvent which may be employed in model studies of complex biological phenomena.     

Studies of conformational isomerism in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone by design of cyclic analogues

Results of energy calculations for α-MSH (α-melanocyte stimulating hormone, Ac-Ser¹-Tyr²-Ser³-Met⁴-Glu⁵-His⁶-Phe⁷-Arg⁸-Trp⁹-Gly¹⁰-Lys¹¹-Pro¹²-Val¹³-NH₂) and [D -Phe⁷]α-MSH were used for design of cyclic peptides with the general aim to stabilize different conformational isomers of the parent compound. The minimal structural modifications of the conformationally flexible Gly¹⁰ residue, as substitutions for L -Ala, D -Ala, or Aib (replacing of hydrogen atoms by methyl groups), were applied to obtain octa- and heptapeptide analogues of α-MSH(4–11) and α-MSH(5–11), which were cyclized by lactam bridges between the side chains in positions 5 and 11. Some of these analogues, namely those with substitutions of the Gly¹⁰ residue with L -Ala or Aib, showed biological activity potencies on frog skin comparable to the potency of the parent tridecapeptide hormone. Additional energy calculations for designed cyclic analogues were used for further refinement of the model for the biologically active conformations of the His-Phe-Arg-Trp “message” sequence within the sequences of α-MSH and [D -Phe⁷]α-MSH. In such conformations the aromatic moieties of the side chains of the His⁶, L/D -Phe⁷, and Trp⁹ residues form a continuous hydrophobic “surface,” presumably interacting with a complementary receptor site. This feature is characteristic for low-energy conformers of active cyclic analogues, but it is absent in the case of inactive analogues. This particular spatial arrangement of functional groups involved in the message sequence is very close for α-MSH and [D -Phe⁷]α-MSH, as well as for biologically active cyclic analogues despite differences of dihedral angle values for corresponding low-energy conformations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 155–167, 1998     

Effect of aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) substitutions on the antimicrobial and cytolytic activities of the frog skin peptide, temporin-1DRa

Temporin-1DRa (HFLGTLVNLAKKIL.NH(2)), first isolated from the skin of the California red-legged frog Rana draytonii, shows broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity but its therapeutic potential is limited by its toxicity against mammalian cells. The cytolytic properties of cationic alpha-helical peptides are determined by a complex interaction between cationicity, hydrophobicity, conformation, and amphipathicity. This study has investigated the cytolytic properties of conformationally constrained analogs of temporin-1DRa containing alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) substitutions. Cytolytic activity was determined against the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the opportunistic yeast pathogen, Candida albicans, human erythrocytes, HepG2 hepatoma-derived cells, and L929 fibroblasts. Aib substitutions at Gly(4), Asn(8), and Ala(10) increased both % helicity, determined in methanol solution, and hydrophobicity resulting in increases in both antimicrobial potencies and toxicities against the mammalian cells. Substitution at Leu(6) resulted in an appreciable decrease in cytolytic activity against all cells whereas the substitutions at His(1), Phe(2), Leu(3), Thr(5), and Val(7) had only minor effects on activity. Substitutions at Leu(9), Ile(13), Leu(14) produced analogs with decreased helicity and hydrophobicity that retained activity against microorganisms but showed appreciably lower cytolytic activities against mammalian cells. In particular, the fourfold increase in therapeutic index [ratio of LC(50) against erythrocytes to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against microorganisms] of [Aib(13)]temporin-1DRa identifies it as a compound with potential for development as a therapeutically valuable anti-infective agent.     

β-Alanine containing cyclic peptides with turned structure: The “pseudo type II β-turn.” VI

In the present paper we describe the synthesis, purification, single crystal x-ray analysis, and nmr solution characterization, combined with restrained molecular dynamic simulations, of the cyclic hexapeptide cyclo-(L -Pro-L -Phe-β-Ala)₂. The peptide was synthesized by classical solution methods and the cyclization of the free hexapeptide was accomplished in good yields in diluted methylene chloride solution using N,N-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁ from methanol-dichloro-methane solution. The two identical halves of the molecule adopt in the solid state two different conformations. One β-Ala-L -Pro peptide bond is trans, while the second is cis. The molecule is present in dimethylsulfoxide d₆ solutions as a mixture of conformational families. One of these corresponds to a C₂ symmetrical molecule with both β-Ala-Pro cis peptide bonds, while the second major conformation is very similar to that observed in the solid state. All Pro-Phe segments, both in the solid state and the symmetrical and unsym-metrical solution conformations, display ?,ψ angles close to that of position i + 1 and i + 2 of type II β-turns. In addition, the segments preceeded by a trans β-Ala-Pro peptide bond are characterized by a typical i ← i + 3 hydrogen bond, which is absent in the conformer containing a cis β-Ala-Pro peptide bond. The latter conformation corresponds to a new structural domain we define as the “pseudo type II β-turn.” © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structure of three Humanin peptides with different activities upon interaction with liposome

We have recently shown that a 24 amino acid Humanin (HN) adopts an anti-parallel β-sheet structure in the presence of a negatively charged 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DOPG) and suggested a possibility that it interacts with lipid membranes and thereby exerts neuroprotective effects through the target cell surface receptors or the intracellular signaling molecules following membrane interaction events. The structures of two HN analogs, having either a S7A mutation or a S14G mutation, were examined under the identical conditions, as the S7A analog is inactive and the S14G analog is 1000-fold more active than the wild type HN. These analogs showed a secondary structure indistinguishable from the structure of HN in the presence of DOPG liposome, while unrelated peptides were disordered with and without DOPG. It thus appeared that HN and the analogs, regardless of the biological activities, have an ability to interact with DOPG liposome and form an anti-parallel β-sheet structure. While the wild type HN and the S7A and S14G analogs were largely disordered in buffer, the S14G analog showed greater stability as a disordered structure in the buffer at a physiological temperature, suggesting that it maintains the disordered structure presumably required for the interaction with the DOPG liposome and thereby greater neuroprotective activity.     

Conformational difference between diastereomers of Dnp-Val-Aib-Gly-Leu-pNA studied by x-ray crystal analyses

In order to investigate the Conformational change of the α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) containing peptide by the D /L replacement of an amino acid residue, single crystals of two diastereomers, Dnp-L -Val-Aib-Gly-L -Leu-pNA (L -L isomer) and Dnp-D -Val-Aib-Gly-L -Leu-pNA (D -L isomer), were prepared from aqueous methanol solutions as CH₃OH and CH₃OH · H₂O solvates, respectively, and were analyzed by the x-ray diffraction method. Molecular conformation of L -L isomer adopts consecutive two different types of β-turns, a type II′ β-turn bent at Aib-Gly, and a type III β-turn bent at Gly-Leu, stabilized by two intramolecular (Leu) NH …? O?C (Val) and (pNA) NH …? O?C(Aib) hydrogen bonds. In contrast, these two intramolecular hydrogen bonds lead the D -L isomer to a distorted 3₁₀-helix conformation consisting of consecutive two type-III β-turn of Aib-Gly-Leu sequence. The most significant structural difference between these diastereomers is the mutual orientation between the Dnp and pNA chromophores. While the extensive stacking of both the chromophores is intramolecularly formed for the folded conformation of L -L isomer, they are oriented toward an opposite direction in the open conformation of D -L isomer and are intermolecularly stacked with each other. The large separation between these diastereomers observed in the chromatography is discussed in the relation with their Conformational differences. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Studies of peptide antibiotics. XLIII. Syntheses of gramicidin S analogs containing D-serine or dehydroalanine in place of D-phenylalanine and asymmetric hydrogenation of the dehydroalanine residue

Gramicidin S (GS) analogs, [D-Ser4,4']-GS and its precursor [O-benzyl-D-Ser4,4']-GS, were synthesized by the conventional method in order to evaluate the role of the hydroxymethyl side chains in D-Ser at 4,4' positions on the biological activity. Another analog [L-Orn(delta-Boc)2,2',delta Ala4,D-Ser4']-GS was prepared from [D-Ser4,4']-GS by t-butyloxycarbonylation and successive dehydration using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-CuCl as dehydrating reagent. The delta Ala residue was asymmetrically hydrogenated to D-Ala in the presence of Pd-black. On the microbial assays, [O-benzyl-D-Ser4,4']-GS showed high antimicrobial activity as natural GS, but [D-Ser4,4']-GS showed low activity; the structure-activity relationships of the analogs were discussed.     

Insulin analogues with modifications in the β-turn of the B-chain

The β-turn formed by the amino acid residues 20–23 of the B-chain of insulin has been implicated as an important structural feature of the molecule. In other biologically active peptides, stabilization of β-turns has resulted in increases in activity. We have synthesized three insulin analogues containing modifications which would be expected to increase the stability of the β-turn. In two analogues, we have substituted α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) for the Glu residue normally present in position B21 or for the Arg residue normally present in position B22; in a third compound, we have replaced the Glu residue with its D-isomer. Biological evaluation of these compounds showed that [B21 Aib]insulin displays a potencyca. one-fourth that of natural insulin, while [B22 Aib]insulin is less than 10% as potent. In contrast, [B21 D-Glu]insulin is equipotent with natural insulin. We conclude that the β-turn region of the insulin molecule normally possesses considerable flexibility, which may be necessary for it to assume a conformation commensurate with high biological activity. If this is the case, [B21 D-Glu]insulin may exhibit a stabilized geometry similar to that of natural insulin when bound to the insulin receptor.     

Dynamic structure of disulfide-removed linear analogs of tachyplesin-I in the lipid bilayer from solid-state NMR

Tachyplesin-I (TP-I) is a 17-residue beta-hairpin antimicrobial peptide containing two disulfide bonds. Linear analogs of TP-I where the four Cys residues were replaced by aromatic and aliphatic residues, TPX4, were found to have varying degrees of activities, with the aromatic analogs similarly potent as TP-I. Understanding the different activities of the linear analogs should give insight into the mechanism of action of TP-I. To this end, we have investigated the dynamic structures of the active TPF4 and the inactive TPA4 in bacteria-mimetic anionic POPE/POPG bilayers and compared them with the wild-type TP-I using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. 13C isotropic chemical shifts and backbone (phi, psi) torsion angles indicate that both TPF4 and TPA4 adopt beta-strand conformations without a beta-turn at key residues. 1H spin diffusion from lipid chains to the peptide indicates that the inactive TPA4 binds to the membrane-water interface, similar to the active TP-I. Thus, neither the conformation nor the depth of insertion of the three peptides correlates with their antimicrobial activities. In contrast, the mobility of the three peptides correlates well with their activities: the active TP-I and TPF4 are both highly mobile in the liquid-crystalline phase of the membrane while the inactive TPA4 is completely immobilized. The different mobilities are manifested in the temperature-dependent 13C and 15N spectra, 13C-1H and 15N-1H dipolar couplings and 1H rotating-frame spin-lattice relaxation times. The dynamics of TP-I and TPF4 are both segmental and global. Combined, these data suggest that TP-I and TPF4 disrupt the membrane by large-amplitude motion in the plane of the membrane. The loss of this motion in TPA4 due to aggregation significantly weakens its activity because a higher peptide concentration is required to disturb lipid packing. Thus molecular motion, rather than structure, appears to be the key determinant for the membrane-disruptive activities of tachyplesins.     

Experimental investigations on the backbone folding of proline-containing model tripeptides

Some proline-containing tripeptides with the general formulas R⁰CO-L -Pro-X-NHR³ (X = Gly,Sar,L -Ala,D -Ala) and R⁰CO-X-L -Pro-NHR³ (X = Gly,L -Ala,D -Ala) have been investigated in solution by ir and ¹H-nmr spectroscopies. Their favored conformational states depend mainly on both the primary structure and the chiral sequence of the molecules. In inert solvents the βII-folding mode is the most favored conformation for the L -Pro-D -Ala and L -Pro-Gly tripeptides, while the βII′-turn is largely preferred by D -Ala-L -Pro derivatives. Under the same conditions only about one-third of the whole conformers of L -Pro-L -Ala molecules adopts the βI-folding mode. Semiopened C₇C₅ and C₅C₇ conformations are appreciably populated in the L -Pro-L -Ala sequence, on the one hand, and in the Gly-L -Pro and L -Ala-L -Pro derivatives, on the other hand. In L -Pro-Sar and X-L -Pro models, the cis–trans isomerism around the middle tertiary amide function is observed. Thus cis L -Pro-Sar and L -Ala-L -Pro conformers are folded by an intramolecular i + 3 → i hydrogen bond, whereas cis D -Ala-L -Pro and Gly-L -Pro molecules accommodate an open conformation. In dimethylsulfoxide the βII- and βII′-folding modes are not essentially destabilized, as contrasted with the βI conformation, which is less populated. In water solution all the above-mentioned conformations, with the possible exception of the βII′-folding mode for D -Ala-L -Pro molecules, seem to vanish. Solute conformations are also compared with the crystal structures of four proline-containing tripeptides.     

Control of leakage activities of alamethicin analogs by metals: Side chain-dependent adverse gating response to Zn2+

Alamethicin (Alm), an antimicrobial peptide rich in α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), is known to self-assemble to form channels in the membranes. Previously, we reported that HG-Alm, an Alm analog with a single His residue at the N-terminus, forms channel assemblies with extremely long lifetimes in the presence of Zn²⁺. In this study, HG-Alm analogs, in the sequences of which all Aib residues were substituted by Leu, norvaline (Nva), or norleucine (Nle), were synthesized and their leakage activities were measured using fluorescent dye-loaded liposomes. We found that these peptides could be categorized into two classes with different gating responses to Zn²⁺.     

Structure-activity relationships of de novo designed cyclic antimicrobial peptides based on gramicidin S

The cyclic beta-sheet structure possessed by the 10-residue antibiotic peptide gramicidin S was taken as the structural framework for the de novo design of biologically active peptides with membrane-active properties. We have shown from previous studies that gramicidin S is a broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi, but is toxic to human red blood cells. We tested the effect of ring size on antimicrobial activity and hemolytic activity on peptides varying from 4 to 16 residues. Interestingly, we were able to dissociate hemolytic activity and antimicrobial activity by increasing the ring size of the peptide to 14 residues (peptide GS14). Furthermore, we increased specificity for microbial membranes while decreasing toxicity to red blood cells by substituting enantiomers (D-amino acids for L-amino acids and vice versa) into the GS14 sequence. The enantiomeric substitutions all disrupted beta-sheet structure in benign medium and decreased peptide amphipathicity. The least amphipathic peptide, produced by substituting a D-Lys at position 4 of GS14 (peptide GS14K4), also had the highest therapeutic index, i.e., highest degree of specificity for microbial cells over human cells. Solution structures of GS14 analogs solved by NMR spectroscopy showed that the D-amino acid side chain was located on the nonpolar face of GS14K4. Another analog, a beta-sheet peptide with reduced amphipathicity (peptide GS14 K3L4), also had a lysine (lysine 3) on the nonpolar face as determined by the NMR structure. Both GS14K4 and GS14 K3L4 had reduced amphipathicity relative to GS14 and much higher therapeutic indices. Finally, the alteration of the nonpolar face hydrophobicity of GS14K4 analogs provided a range of activities and specificities, where the peptides with the intermediate hydrophobicities among the series had the highest therapeutic indices. The optimal peptide hydrophobicities varied depending on the microorganism being tested, with higher hydrophobicity requirements against Gram-positive bacteria and yeast compared with Gram-negative microorganisms. The net result of these studies suggests that it is possible to rationally design a cyclic membrane-active antimicrobial peptide with high specificity towards prokaryotic (bacterial and fungal) membranes and minimal toxicity to eukaryotic (e.g., mammalian) membranes.     

Tryptophan- and arginine-rich antimicrobial peptides: Structures and mechanisms of action

Antimicrobial peptides encompass a number of different classes, including those that are rich in a particular amino acid. An important subset are peptides rich in Arg and Trp residues, such as indolicidin and tritrpticin, that have broad and potent antimicrobial activity. The importance of these two amino acids for antimicrobial activity was highlighted through the screening of a complete combinatorial library of hexapeptides. These residues possess some crucial chemical properties that make them suitable components of antimicrobial peptides. Trp has a distinct preference for the interfacial region of lipid bilayers, while Arg residues endow the peptides with cationic charges and hydrogen bonding properties necessary for interaction with the abundant anionic components of bacterial membranes. In combination, these two residues are capable of participating in cation-π interactions, thereby facilitating enhanced peptide-membrane interactions. Trp sidechains are also implicated in peptide and protein folding in aqueous solution, where they contribute by maintaining native and nonnative hydrophobic contacts. This has been observed for the antimicrobial peptide from human lactoferrin, possibly restraining the peptide structure in a suitable conformation to interact with the bacterial membrane. These unique properties make the Arg- and Trp-rich antimicrobial peptides highly active even at very short peptide lengths. Moreover, they lead to structures for membrane-mimetic bound peptides that go far beyond regular α-helices and β-sheet structures. In this review, the structures of a number of different Trp- and Arg-rich antimicrobial peptides are examined and some of the major mechanistic studies are presented.