Insertion of magainin into the lipid bilayer detected using lipid photolabels

Research was conducted to examine the interaction of the antimicrobial peptides Ala19-magainin 2 amide and magainin 2 amide with lipid using two lipid photolabels, azidobenzoylamido capryloyl galactosylceramide and azidobenzoyl galactosylceramide. The hydrophobic photolabeling method was used to detect magainin molecules which are inserted deeply into the bilayer. Results indicate that the use of the photolabeling method has allowed the detection of peptide monomers which inserted into the bilayer and/or formed a channel at some time during the labeling procedure.