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Antimicrobial peptides with cell-penetrating peptide properties and vice versa

European Biophysics Journal volume 40, pages 387–397 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a group of peptides that are active against a diverse spectrum of microorganisms. Due to their mode of action, AMPs are a promising class of molecules that could overcome the problems of increasing resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics. Furthermore, AMPs are strongly membrane-active and some are able to translocate into cells without the necessity for permanent membrane permeabilization. This feature has brought them into focus for use as transport vectors in the context of drug delivery. Since the plasma membrane restricts transport of bioactive substances into cells, great research interest lies in the development of innovative ways to overcome this barrier and to increase bioavailability. In this context, peptide-based transport systems, such as cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), have come into focus, and their efficiency has been demonstrated in many different applications. However, more recently, also some AMPs have been used as efficient vectors for intracellular translocation of various active molecules. This review summarizes recent efforts in this interesting field of drug delivery. Moreover, some examples of the application of CPPs as efficient antimicrobial substances will be discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the project FOR 630 “Biological function of organometallic compounds.”

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Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig, Brüderstr. 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Katrin Splith & Ines Neundorf

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  1. Katrin Splith
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  2. Ines Neundorf
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Correspondence to Ines Neundorf.

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Membrane-active peptides: 455th WE-Heraeus-Seminar and AMP 2010 Workshop.

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Splith, K., Neundorf, I. Antimicrobial peptides with cell-penetrating peptide properties and vice versa. Eur Biophys J 40, 387–397 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-011-0682-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-011-0682-7

Keywords

  • Antimicrobial peptides
  • Drug delivery
  • Cell-penetrating peptides
  • Cellular uptake mechanism