File:Viscotoxins.jpg

The model that describes the action of viscotoxins against tumor cells. "Frequently cited models for activity of antimicrobial peptides. a AMPs diffusing through solution, b AMPs adsorption to the membrane. After the threshold concentration is achieved, peptide molecules begin to reorient in the lipid bilayer (c). Their further fate may be described using one of three models. The first, depicted in the d is called barrel-stave model. In this scenario, hydrophobic regions of AMPs align with the tails of the lipids and the hydrophilic residues form the inner surface of the forming pore. According to the wormhole model (called also toroidal pore model, shown in e) during peptides aggregation, hydrophilic heads of the lipids are electrostatically dragged by charged residues of AMPs. The membrane bends, two layers merge and form continuous surface surrounding the pore. The carpet model shown in f assumes, that at large concentrations, peptide molecules disrupt the membrane in a detergent-like manner breaking the lipid bilayer into set of separate micelles" from Nawrot, R., Barylski, J., Nowicki, G., Broniarczyk, J., Buchwald, W., & Goździcka-Józefiak, A. (2014). Plant antimicrobial peptides. Folia microbiologica, 59(3), 181–196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-013-0280-4