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. 1991 May 1;88(9):3792–3796. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.9.3792

Antibiotic magainins exert cytolytic activity against transformed cell lines through channel formation.

R A Cruciani 1, J L Barker 1, M Zasloff 1, H C Chen 1, O Colamonici 1
PMCID: PMC51539  PMID: 1708887

Abstract

Magainins are an ionophoric class of vertebrate peptides with antibiotic activity against various microorganisms. Here we show that magainin 2 and synthetic analogues can rapidly and irreversibly lyse hematopoietic tumor and solid tumor target cells with a relative cytotoxic potency that parallels their antibacterial efficacy and at concentrations that are relatively nontoxic to well-differentiated cells. The cytotoxicity is prevented by cell depolarization. Magainins represent a natural cytolytic agent in vertebrates and may provide another therapeutic strategy for certain tumors.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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