The bombinin family of antimicrobial

peptides Peptides (, ) are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Long chains of amino acids are called proteins. Chains of fewer than twenty amino acids are called oligopeptides, and include dipeptides, tripeptides, and tetrapeptides. A p ...

includes the bombinin and maximin

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...

s from ''

Bombina maxima ''Bombina maxima'', commonly known as the Yunnan firebelly toad or large-webbed bell toad, is a species of toad in the family Bombinatoridae found in Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the ...

'' (Giant fire-bellied toad). Two groups of antimicrobial peptides have been isolated from skin

secretion 440px Secretion is the movement of material from one point to another, such as a secreted chemical substance from a cell or gland. In contrast, excretion is the removal of certain substances or waste products from a cell or organism. The classical ...

s of ''B. maxima''. Peptides in the first group, named maximins 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, are

structurally A structure is an arrangement and organization of interrelated elements in a material object or system, or the object or system so organized. Material structures include man-made objects such as buildings and machines and natural objects such as ...

related to bombinin-like peptides (BLPs). Unlike BLPs, sequence variations in maximins occurred all through the

molecule A molecule is a group of two or more atoms held together by attractive forces known as chemical bonds; depending on context, the term may or may not include ions which satisfy this criterion. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, and bioch ...

s. In addition to the potent antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity against

tumour A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

cells and spermicidal action of maximins, maximin 3 possessed a significant anti-Simian- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity. Maximins 1 and 3 have been found to be

toxic Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subst ...

mice A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...

. Peptides in the second group, termed maximins H1, H2, H3 and H4, are homologous with bombinin H peptides.

References

{{InterPro content, IPR007962 Protein families Antimicrobial peptides