Article: theta-Defensin composed exclusively of D-amino acids active against HIV-1.

2004 AUG 22 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A theta-defensin composed exclusively of D-amino acids is active against HIV-1.

"The ability of certain theta-defensins, including retrocyclin-1, to protect human cells from infection by HIV-1 marks them as potentially useful molecules. theta-Defensins composed of L-amino acids are likely to be unstable in environments that contain host and microbial proteases," investigators in the United States report.

"This study compared the properties of two enantiomeric theta-defensins, retrocyclin-1, and RC-112. Although these peptides have identical sequences," wrote S.M. Owen and coworkers, "RC-112 is composed ...

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