Urrutia R, Cruciani R A, Barker J L, Kachar B
Laboratory of Neuro-otolaryngology, NIDCD, Bethesda, MD 20892.
FEBS Lett. 1989 Apr 10;247(1):17-21. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(89)81230-x.
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.
