Sarcotoxins are a group of

antibacterial peptides Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also called host defence peptides (HDPs) are part of the innate immune response found among all classes of life. Fundamental differences exist between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that may represent targets for an ...

present in the flesh fly belonging to the genus ''

Sarcophaga ''Sarcophaga'' is a genus of true flies and the type genus of the flesh-fly family (Sarcophagidae). The members of this cosmopolitan genus are frequently known as common flesh flies. This genus occurs essentially worldwide. These flies are gene ...

''. The proteins are present in the haemolymph of the flesh fly. The first protein, called sarcotoxin 1A, was discovered in 1983 from ''

Sarcophaga peregrina ''Sarcophaga peregrina'' (synonym ''Boettcherisca peregrina'') is a species of flesh fly belonging to the family Sarcophagidae. They easily breed, multiply and spread in human habitation, from garbage, faeces and livestock manures. In many region ...

'' by Masayuki Okada and Shunji Natori at the University of Tokyo, Japan. The name Sarcotoxin is derived from the peptide's discovery in ''Sarcophaga'' flies, and so antibacterial compounds were given the name Sarcotoxin and an identifying number or letter. However many Sarcotoxins are homologues of

Cecropin Cecropins are antimicrobial peptides. They were first isolated from the hemolymph of ''Hyalophora cecropia'', whence the term cecropin was derived. Cecropins lyse bacterial cell membranes; they also inhibit proline uptake and cause leaky membranes ...

s or Attacins, and are not unique to ''Sarcophaga'' flies.

References

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External links

Description at COPEUniProt database
Antimicrobial peptides Insect toxins