References & Sources

Two genes equal one antibiotic

In an unusual process, one section of nine amino acids breaks off from each of two different precursor proteins and the two sections fuse to form a recently discovered, naturally occurring, ring-shaped antibiotic.

References:

Tang, Y.-Q. . . . and M.E. Selsted. 1999. A cyclic antimicrobial peptide produced in primate leukocytes by the ligation of two truncated a -defensins. Science 286(Oct. 15):498.

Further Readings:

Travis, J. 1999. Making the cut. Science News 156(Oct. 2):222.

Sources:

Michael E. Selsted
University of California, Irvine
College of Medicine
Department of Pathology
Irvine, CA 92697

From Science News, Vol. 156, No. 18, October 30, 1999, p. 283. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.