Moricin

Moricin
Solution structure of antibacterial peptide (Moricin) [1]
Identifiers
Symbol	Moricin
Pfam	PF06451
InterPro	IPR009456
SCOP	1kv4
Available protein structures: Pfam structures PDB RCSB PDB; PDBe PDBsum structure summary

Moricin is a highly basic antibacterial peptide that was isolated from the silkworm Bombyx mori. ^[2] It consists of a long alpha-helix with 8 turns from a 42 amino acid sequence over almost the entire protein. The entire protein is 71% helical, with exception to 4 N terminal residues and 6 C terminal residues.^[2] With this data, we can conclude that the majority of the protein consists of alpha helix.^[3] These alpha helices are considered coiled coils. ^[2] The N terminus of the helix is amphipathic, and the C terminus of the helix is predominately hydrophobic. 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.^[4] With this being said, this segment of the alpha helix is the active center of moricin for antibacterial activity. ^[2] Moricin functions as an antibacterial against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, with its main activity being towards gram positive bacteria.^[2] However, the exact role of moricin in our immune system is unknown.

References

1. ^ Hemmi H, Ishibashi J, Hara S, Yamakawa M (May 2002). "Solution structure of moricin, an antibacterial peptide, isolated from the silkworm Bombyx mori". FEBS Lett. 518 (1-3): 33–8. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(02)02637-6. PMID 11997013. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "ScienceDirect - FEBS Letters : Solution structure of moricin, an antibacterial peptide, isolated from the silkworm Bombyx mori". http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T36-45M0T3S-1&_user=8509835&_coverDate=05%2F08%2F2002&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000107246&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=8509835&md5=302104d002cfb4535390721d9a958b63&searchtype=a. 
3. ^ "RCSB Protein Data Bank - Sequence / Structure Details for 1KV4 - Solution structure of antibacterial peptide (Moricin)". http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/explore/remediatedSequence.do?structureId=1KV4. 
4. ^ Hara S, Ishibashi J, Yamakawa M, Hemmi H (2002). "Solution structure of moricin, an antibacterial peptide, isolated from the silkworm Bombyx mori". FEBS Lett. 518 (1-3): 33–38. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(02)02637-6. PMID 11997013. 

External links

This article includes text from the public domain Pfam and InterPro IPR009456