Moricin is a highly

basic Basic or BASIC may refer to: Science and technology * BASIC, a computer programming language * Basic (chemistry), having the properties of a base * Basic access authentication, in HTTP Entertainment * Basic (film), ''Basic'' (film), a 2003 film ...

antibacterial peptide Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also called host defence peptides (HDPs) are part of the innate immune response found among all classes of life. Fundamental differences exist between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that may represent targets for ...

that was isolated from the silkworm

Bombyx mori ''Bombyx mori'', commonly known as the domestic silk moth, is a moth species belonging to the family Bombycidae. It is the closest relative of '' Bombyx mandarina'', the wild silk moth. Silkworms are the larvae of silk moths. The silkworm is of ...

. It consists of a long alpha-helix with 8 turns from a 42 amino acid sequence over almost the entire protein. The amphipathic N-terminal segment of the alpha- helix is mainly responsible for the increase in permeability of the bacterial membrane which kills the bacteria. Moricin functions as an antibacterial peptide against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with its main activity being towards Gram-positive bacteria.

References

External links

{{InterPro content, IPR009456 Protein domains Antimicrobial peptides Insect immunity