title: Antimicrobial peptides in action.
abstract: Molecular dynamics simulations of the magainin MG-H2 peptide interacting with a model phospholipid membrane have been used to investigate the mechanism by which antimicrobial peptides act. Multiple copies of the peptide were randomly placed in solution close to the membrane. The peptide readily bound to the membrane, and above a certain concentration, the peptide was observed to cooperatively induce the formation of a nanometer-sized, toroidally shaped pore in the bilayer. In sharp contrast with the commonly accepted model of a toroidal pore, only one peptide was typically found near the center of the pore. The remaining peptides lay close to the edge of the pore, maintaining a predominantly parallel orientation with respect to the membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hari
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leontiadou
authors.forename: Alan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Siewert J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Marrink
mesh_terms: D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008055:Lipids; D014867:Water; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine