| Biochem/physiol Actions | Alamethicin is a 20-amino acid channel-forming peptide antibiotic isolated from the fungus Trichoderma viride. Alamethicin consists of several isoforms, for which structural information has been published. Alamethicin forms voltage-dependent channels across lipid bilayer membranes. The Alamethicin channel is built by a bundle of helical monomers forming a water filled transmembrane pore. The conductivity level of the channel is determined by the number of associated helical monomers (3-12), which generates a non aligned supermolecular structure with an aqueous core through which ions can cross lipid membranes. Alamethicin catalyzes the exchange of protons for monovalent cations with little difference in affinities and has the ability to transport cations through biological and artificial lipid membranes. Alamethicin can be used for the permeabilization of mitochondria without affecting the outer or inner membranes. |
