Combinatorial Synthesis and Directed Evolution Applied to the Production of α-Helix Forming Antimicrobial Peptides Analogues

Title: Combinatorial Synthesis and Directed Evolution Applied to the Production of α-Helix Forming Antimicrobial Peptides Analogues

Volume: 7 Issue: 6

Author(s): Mariana S. Castro, Eduardo M. Cilli and Wagner Fontes

Affiliation:

Keywords: Antimicrobial peptides, amphipathic α-helix, combinatorial synthesis, directed evolution, high-throughput

Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are effector molecules of innate immune systems found in different groups of organisms, including microorganisms, plants, insects, amphibians and humans. These peptides exhibit several structural motifs but the most abundant AMPs assume an amphipathic α-helical structure. The α-helix forming antimicrobial peptides are excellent candidates for protein engineering leading to an optimization of their biological activity and target specificity. Nowadays several approaches are available and this review deals with the use of combinatorial synthesis and directed evolution in order to provide a high-throughput source of antimicrobial peptides analogues with enhanced lytic activity and specificity.

Cite this article as:

Castro S. Mariana, Cilli M. Eduardo and Fontes Wagner, Combinatorial Synthesis and Directed Evolution Applied to the Production of α-Helix Forming Antimicrobial Peptides Analogues, Current Protein & Peptide Science 2006; 7 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920306779025648