Chemicals and Drugs

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides

Small cationic peptides that are an important component, in most species, of early innate and induced defenses against invading microbes. In animals they are found on mucosal surfaces, within phagocytic granules, and on the surface of the body. They are also found in insects and plants. Among others, this group includes the DEFENSINS, protegrins, tachyplesins, and thionins. They displace DIVALENT CATIONS from phosphate groups of MEMBRANE LIPIDS leading to disruption of the membrane.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Small cationic peptides that are an important component, in most species, of early innate and induced defenses against invading microbes. In animals they are found on mucosal surfaces, within phagocytic granules, and on the surface of the body. They are also found in insects and plants. Among others, this group includes the DEFENSINS, protegrins, tachyplesins, and thionins. They displace DIVALENT CATIONS from phosphate groups of MEMBRANE LIPIDS leading to disruption of the membrane.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

19 entry terms
  • Cationic Antimicrobial Peptide
  • Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides
  • Cationic Host Defense Peptides
  • Microbicidal Cationic Proteins
  • Antimicrobial Peptide, Cationic
  • Antimicrobial Peptides, Cationic
  • Cationic Peptides, Antimicrobial
  • Cationic Proteins, Microbicidal
  • Peptide, Cationic Antimicrobial
  • Peptides, Antimicrobial Cationic
  • Peptides, Cationic Antimicrobial
  • Proteins, Microbicidal Cationic
  • Amphipathic Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides
  • Host Defense Peptide
  • Host Defense Peptides
  • Defense Peptide, Host
  • Defense Peptides, Host
  • Peptide, Host Defense
  • Peptides, Host Defense

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

29 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

2001; use ANTIMICROBIAL CATIONIC PEPTIDES (NM) to search MICROBICIDAL CATIONIC PROTEINS 1981-2000

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Proteins (1981-2000)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D12.644w.050
  2. D12.644w.066w.500
  3. D12.776w.543w.695w.054

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D023181. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D023181
  2. Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q78188513