Interactions of antifungal plant defensins with fungal membrane components

• Published in: Peptides (New York, N.Y. : 1980) Vol. 24; no. 11; pp. 1705 - 1712
• Main Authors: Thevissen, Karin, Ferket, Kathelijne K.A., François, Isabelle E.J.A., Cammue, Bruno P.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-11-2003
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - metabolism; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Candida albicans; Cell Membrane - chemistry; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Cell Membrane - metabolism; cysteine; defensins; Defensins - metabolism; Defensins - pharmacology; Fungi - cytology; Fungi - drug effects; Fungi - metabolism; Glucosylceramide; Mode of action; Models, Biological; Neurospora crassa; Pichia pastoris; Plant defensin; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Proteins - pharmacology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Sphingolipid; Candida albicans; AMP; Plant defensin; Sphingolipid; M(IP) 2C; AFP; MIPC; Pichia pastoris; Mode of action; GIPC; SG; GlcCer; Glucosylceramide; Neurospora crassa; Syr E; IPC; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• ISSN: 0196-9781; 1873-5169
• DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2003.09.014

Plant defensins are small, basic, cysteine-rich peptides that are generally active against a broad spectrum of fungal and yeast species at micromolar concentrations. Some of these defensins interact with fungal-specific lipid components in the plasmamembrane. Structural differences of these membrane components between fungal and plant cells probably account for the selective activity of plant defensins against fungal pathogens and their nonphytotoxic properties. This review will focus on different classes of complex lipids in fungal membranes and on the selective interaction of plant defensins with these complex lipids.