Macropin 1 – Antimicrobial Peptides – AMP

Macropin-1 (MAC-1) is an anti-microbial peptide (AMP) isolated from venom of the solitary bee Macropis fulvipes (Hymenoptera: Melittidae). MAC-1 has activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant strains. MAC-1 can inhibit biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and also exhibits anti-fungal activity. MAC-1 has little to no haemolytic activity against human cells at microbiologically effective concentrations. Macropin acts by first binding to negatively charged bacterial membrane components- such as peptidoglycan (PTG) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Macropin then kills the bacteria by disrupting the outer bacterial membrane and depolarising the cytoplasmic membrane to cause cell penetration.