HEL46-61 - Antimicrobial Peptides - AMP

Amino acids 46 to 61 of the hen egg lysozyme (HEL). Lysozyme hydrolyses the bond between-N-acetyl glucosamine and-N-acetyl muramic acid (muramidase activity) leading to degradation of peptidoglycan (PG) in the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria, it also inactivates certain viruses. HEL enhances phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages, and stimulates proliferation and anti-tumour functions of monocytes. The bacterial defence properties of lysozyme may be related to structural properties and not to its bacteriolytic action. Genetically inactive lysozyme is a potent bactericide against Gram-positive bacteria in the absence of its enzyme activity.