title: Plant defense peptides.
abstract: Eight families of antimicrobial peptides, ranging in size from 2 to 9 kD, have been identified in plants. These are thionins, defensins, so-called lipid transfer proteins, hevein- and knottin-like peptides, MBP1, IbAMP, and the recently reported snakins. All of them have compact structures that are stabilized by 2-6 disulfide bridges. They are part of both permanent and inducible defense barriers. Transgenic overexpression of the corresponding genes leads to enhanced tolerance to pathogens, and peptide-sensitive pathogen mutants have reduced virulence.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, ETS Ingenieros Agrónomos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García-Olmedo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alamillo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Palenzuéla
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D023082:Defensins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011506:Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023082:Defensins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011506:Proteins