Anion pores from magainins and related defensive peptides

The conformations and properties of magainins, powerful antimicrobial peptides isolated from Xenopus laevis skin, are reviewed. Although some emphasis will be placed upon membrane interactions both in living cells and liposomes, we will especially focus on pore-forming properties as studied with conductance measurements on doped planar lipid bilayers. The relevance to channel modelling and engineering will be stressed and finally the relations, analogies and differences, of magainins with other insect and mammalian defensive peptides, such as cecropins and defensins, will be presented.