Mode of Action
Several methods have been used to determine the mechanisms of antimicrobial peptide activity. In particular, solid-state NMR studies have provided an atomic-level resolution explanation of membrane disruption by antimicrobial peptides.
| Methods | Applications |
|---|---|
| Microscopy | to visualize the effects of antimicrobial peptides on microbial cells. |
| Fluorescent dyes | to measure antimicrobial peptides to permeabilize membrane vesicles. |
| Ion channel formation | to assess the formation and stability of an antimicrobial-peptide-induced pore. |
| Circular dichroism and orientated circular dichroism | to measure the orientation and secondary structure of an antimicrobial peptide bound to a lipid bilayer |
| Dual Polarization Interferometry | to measure the different mechanisms of antimocrobial peptides |
| Solid-state NMR spectroscopy | to measure the secondary structure, orientation and penetration of antimicrobial peptides into lipid bilayers in the biologically relevant LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE STATE |
| Neutron and X-ray diffraction | to measure the diffraction patterns of peptide-induced pores within membranes in oriented multilayers or liquids |
Read more about this topic: Antimicrobial Peptides
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