In recent years the interest in antimicrobial proteins and peptides and their mode of action has been rapidly increasing due to their potential to prevent and combat microbial infections in all areas of life. A detailed knowledge about the function of such proteins is the most important requirement to consider them for future application. Our research in recent years has been focused on the low molecular weight, cysteine-rich and cationic antifungal protein PAF from Penicillium chrysogenum, which inhibits the growth of opportunistic zoo-pathogens including Aspergillus fumigatus, numerous plant-pathogenic fungi and the model organism Aspergillus nidulans. So far, the experimental results indicate that PAF elicits hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane and the activation of ion channels, followed by an increase in reactive oxygen species in the cell and the induction of an apoptosis-like phenotype. Detailed knowledge about the molecular mechanism of action of antifungal proteins such as PAF contributes to the development of new antimicrobial strategies that are urgently needed.
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Similar content being viewed by others Explore related subjectsDiscover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning. Author information Authors and AffiliationsBiocenter, Division of Molecular Biology, Innsbruck Medical University, Fritz-Pregl Strasse 3, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
F. Marx & U. Binder
Department of Microbial Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
É. Leiter & I. Pócsi
Correspondence to F. Marx.
Additional informationReceived 09 August 2007; received after revision 17 September 2007; accepted 19 September 2007
About this article Cite this articleMarx, F., Binder, U., Leiter, É. et al. The Penicillium chrysogenum antifungal protein PAF, a promising tool for the development of new antifungal therapies and fungal cell biology studies. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 65, 445–454 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-007-7364-8
Published: 29 October 2007
Issue Date: February 2008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-007-7364-8
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