Table 1.
Main classes of host defense peptides (HDPs) shown to induce RCD.
| Main classes of RCD-inducing antifungal peptides∗ | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Source | Mode of action apart from RCD induction and mitochondrial dysfunction |
| A. Helical and extended peptides | ||
| Periplanetasin-2 | Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) | Lipid peroxidation, caspase activation |
| Scolopendin | Centipedes Class Chilopoda |
Metacaspase activation |
| Lactoferrin | Bovine/human | Metacaspase activation, inhibition of membrane H+-ATPase Pma1 |
|
| ||
| B. γ–core containing peptides | ||
| Plant defensin RsAFP2 | Radish (Raphanus sativus) | Interaction with fungal-specific glucosylceramide, induction of cell wall stress, ceramide accumulation, septin mislocalization, metacaspase independent |
| Plant defensin HsAFP1 | Coral bell (Heuchera sanguinea) | Interaction with PA and PI phospholipids, accumulation at buds and septa, internalization, pH dependent activity in vitro |
| Plant defensin-like peptide ApDef-1 | Adenanthera pavonina | Cell cycle dysfunction, metacaspase activation |
| Insect defensin Coprisin | Dung beetle Family Scarabaeoidea | Dysfunctional mitochondrial Δψ and cytochrome C release |
| Fungal defensin-like peptide NFAP | Neosartorya fischeri | Cell wall dysfunction, accumulation of nuclei at broken hyphal tips |
| Fungal defensin-like peptide AFP | Aspergillus giganteus | Cell wall perturbation |
| Neutrophil defensin hNP-1 | Human | Membrane permeabilization and depolarization |
| Beta defensin hβD-2 | Human | RCD modulated by Bcr1 and Ssd1 proteins in C. albicans |
| Kinocidins (e.g., CXCL4, CXCL8) | Mammalian | Perturb membrane energetics and inhibit macromolecular synthesis; pH-related activity in vitro; RCD modulated by Bcr1 and Ssd1 proteins in C. albicans |
∗Note that Histatin-5 and plant defensin-like peptide LpDef1 were not integrated in the table as their potential induction of RCD is still under investigation.