Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Refined three-dimensional solution structure of insect defensin A

B Cornet¹, J M Bonmatin, C Hetru

¹Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire (CNRS), Orléans, France.

Structure (London, England : 1993)

|May 15, 1995

Summary

Insect defensin A, a key antimicrobial peptide, has a defined three-dimensional structure. This structure, featuring a cysteine-stabilized alpha beta motif, explains its interaction with bacterial membranes.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Correction to: Effects of neonicotinoids and fipronil on non-target invertebrates.

Environmental science and pollution research international·2025

Same author

Study of the effect of growth time and visible light intensity on the content of silymarin in milk thistle sprouts (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner) using spectroscopic methods.

Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy·2025

Same author

Broadband near-infrared luminescence properties of Sc<sub>2</sub>(MoO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub>:Cr<sup>3+</sup> molybdates.

Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy·2023

Same author

The threat of veterinary medicinal products and biocides on pollinators: A One Health perspective.

One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2021

Same author

THz, Raman, IR and DFT studies of noncentrosymmetric metal dicyanamide frameworks comprising benzyltrimethylammonium cations.

Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy·2021

Same author

Magnetic excitation and readout of methyl group tunnel coherence.

Science advances·2020

Area of Science:

Structural biology
Biochemistry
Antimicrobial peptides

Background:

Insect defensin A is a 4 kDa protein from Phormia terranovae larvae.
It responds to bacterial challenges and injuries.
Bacterial cytoplasmic membranes are the suspected target.

Purpose of the Study:

Determine the three-dimensional structure of insect defensin A.
Establish a structure-activity relationship.
Understand the molecular basis of its antibiotic activity.

Main Methods:

Refined three-dimensional structure determination.
Extensive analysis of 786 inter-proton nuclear Overhauser effects.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

The structure reveals an N-terminal loop, an alpha-helical fragment, and an antiparallel beta-structure.

A 'cysteine-stabilized alpha beta' (CS alpha beta) motif is formed by disulfide bridges.

The N-terminal loop shows conformational flexibility.

Conclusions:

The CS alpha beta motif is common in toxic small proteins.
Hydrophobic and hydrophilic patches suggest membrane interaction mechanisms.
Defensin A may initially interact with acidic phospholipids on bacterial membranes.