Plant defense peptides

✍ Scribed by Francisco García-Olmedo; Antonio Molina; Josefa M. Alamillo; Pablo Rodríguez-Palenzuéla

• Book ID: 101241043
• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 177 KB
• Volume: 47
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0006-3525
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0282(1998)47:6<479::aid-bip6>3.0.co;2-k

✦ Synopsis

Eight families of antimicrobial peptides, ranging in size from 2 to 9 kD, have been identified in plants. These are thionins, defensins, so-called lipid transfer proteins, hevein- and knottin-like peptides, MBP1, IbAMP, and the recently reported snakins. All of them have compact structures that are stabilized by 2-6 disulfide bridges. They are part of both permanent and inducible defense barriers. Transgenic overexpression of the corresponding genes leads to enhanced tolerance to pathogens, and peptide-sensitive pathogen mutants have reduced virulence.