Cationic peptides structure-activity relationships

Structure-activity relationship studies investigating the antimicrobial activities of host defense peptides have primarily sought the characterization of the specific sequence/structural motifs that dictate antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Perhaps unsurprisingly these activities appear to be dictated by a delicate balance of cationicity, hydrophobicity, amphipathicity, and ultimately the structural characteristics of the peptides. 

Powers, J-P.S., Rozek, A. and Hancock, I.R.E.W. (2004). Structure-activity relationships for the P-hairpin cationic antimicrobial peptide polyphemusin I. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Proteins Proteomics 1698(2) 239-250. 

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