Antibiotic Peptides

The review summarizes current ideas about structure, function, action mechanisms and medical application prospects of a wide range of antimicrobial peptides with a special focus on defensins as most studied of them. By now, several thousands of antibiotic peptides have been identified that are produced by organisms occupying virtually all rungs of the evolutionary ladder—from prokaryotes to humans. They are active against all types of pathological microorganisms—archaea, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Antibiotic peptides are synthesized both on and beyond ribosomes. They bind to the envelope of a microorganism either via specific receptors or electrostatically, leading in both cases to the formation of pores for their penetration. Specific targets of antibiotic peptides include intracellular organelles, e.g., ribosomes. Antibiotic peptides offer a great potential for medical use because they promote the development of resistance to a much lesser extent than conventional synthetic antibiotics.