Plant Antimicrobial Peptides: Insights into Structure-Function Relationships for Practical Applications

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short polypeptide molecules produced by multicellular organisms that are involved in host defense and microbiome preservation. In recent years, AMPs have attracted attention as novel drug candidates. However, their successful use requires detailed knowledge of the mode of action and identification of the determinants of biological activity. In this review, we focused on structure-function relationships in the thionins, α-hairpinins, hevein-like peptides, and the unique Ib-AMP peptides isolated from Impatiens balsamina. We summarized the available data on the amino acid sequences and 3D structure of peptides, their biosynthesis, and their biological activity. Special attention was paid to the determination of residues that play a key role in the activity and the identification of the minimal active cores. We have shown that even subtle changes in amino acid sequences can affect the biological activity of AMPs, which opens up the possibility of creating molecules with improved properties, better therapeutic efficacy, and cheaper large-scale production.