Magainins are peptide antibiotics with antibacterial and antiparasitic activities, originally extracted from the skin of Xenopus laevis. Magainin 1 and 2 are closely related peptides of 23 amino acids each and differ by two substitutions. These antimicrobial peptides have broad-spectrum, non-specific activity against a wide range of micro-organisms, including viruses, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, protozoa, yeasts and fungi, and may also be hemolytic and cytotoxic to cancer cells. Magainin 1 is a bactericide. Both Magainin 1 and 2 exhibit inhibitory action toward Herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) and HSV-2.
Williams, RW. et al. Biophysical J.53, 631A (1988); Morvan, A. et al. Mol. Mar. Biol. Biotechnol.3, 327 (1994); Matanic, A. et al. Int. J. Antimicrob Agents23, 382 (2004); Zasloff, M. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.84, 5449 (1987).
Molecular Weight
2409.9
Sequence (One-Letter Code)
GIGKFLHSAGKFGKAFVGEIMKS
Sequence (Three-Letter Code)
H - Gly - Ile - Gly - Lys - Phe - Leu - His - Ser - Ala - Gly - Lys - Phe - Gly - Lys - Ala - Phe - Val - Gly - Glu - Ile - Met - Lys - Ser - OH