Membrane interactions of antimicrobial peptides from Australian tree frogs

The skin secretions of amphibians are rich in host defence peptides. The membrane interactions of the antimicrobial peptides, aurein 1.2, citropin 1.1 and maculatin 1.1, isolated from Australian tree frogs, are reviewed. Although all three peptides are amphipathic alpha-helices, the mode of action of these membrane-active peptides is not defined. The peptides have a net positive charge and range in length from 13 to 21 residues, with the longest, maculatin 1.1, having a proline at position 15. Interestingly, alanine substitution at Pro-15 leads to loss of activity. The effects of these peptides on phospholipid bilayers indicate different mechanisms for pore formation and lysis of model membranes, with the shorter peptides exhibiting a carpet-like mechanism and the longest peptide forming pores in phospholipid bilayer membranes.