Spontaneous polymerization of the antibiotic peptide magainin 2 |
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Authors: | R Urrutia R A Cruciani J L Barker B Kachar |
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Affiliation: | Laboratory of Neuro-otolaryngology, NIDCD, Bethesda, MD 20892. |
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Abstract: | We describe here the ability of the magainin 2 peptide to assemble spontaneously into characteristic 13-nm diameter filaments having a 30 nm periodic helical substructure. Optimal conditions for extensive polymerization into filaments of several hundred microns required low pH and high ionic strength. Polymerization of the magainin 2 peptide may be involved in its recently described in vitro membrane-disrupting and antibiotic activities. |
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