Plectasin

• UniProt: Q53I06

Is Plectasin as a collection of a -amino acid peptide belonging to the group of defensins protein that has been demonstrated in fungi and invertebrates and has an antibiotic effect. It is a pore-forming protein.

In a study of the Danish company Novozymes in 2001 in which belonging to the order of peel fungus -like fungal species Pseudoplectania nigrella the peptide Plectasin discovered and described in a publication in 2005.

As a molecule with pathogens defensive action it is counted among the so-called defensins and its chemical structure is similar to those found in spiders, scorpions, dragonflies and mussels. When now made ​​in elucidating its mode of action has been demonstrated that this drug with two effects triggers a defense against bacteria. Killing the pathogens on the one hand, in which the Eiweismolekül attaches to the cell wall component of Lipid II and prevents that this is incorporated into new bacteria walls. Thus, the development of new bacterial cell walls is greatly disturbed after infection with the bacteria proliferation. On the other hand, alarmed and also at the same time it activates the immune system. Plectasin showed both in vitro and in an in vivo mouse model of infection, a particularly high effectiveness against pneumococci. Preclinical studies have also shown that multi-resistant bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus significant difficulties had to develop against Plectasin NZ2114 ( Plectasinvariante Novozymes ) a resistance. The researchers will look amazing in this drug a promising lead compound for new antibiotics.