Antimicrobial · C-terminally amidated, amphipathic antimicrobial peptide
PGLa
Also known as Peptide glycine-leucine-amide
An amidated frog-skin peptide used to study membrane helix orientation and cooperative interactions with Magainin II.
- Length
- 21 amino acids
- Half-life
- Not well characterised
- Mechanism
- PGLa binds lipid bilayers and forms an amphipathic α-helix whose orientation varies with membrane composition and peptide surface density. Membrane perturbation, including cooperative interactions with Magainin II in selected models, occurs without an established protein receptor.
- Studied in
- Lipid vesicles, oriented bilayers and bacterial cultures are used to study helix orientation, membrane permeability and peptide–peptide cooperation.
About PGLa
PGLa is a skin-secretory peptide from Xenopus laevis that was characterised during investigations of frog peptides in the 1980s. Its name refers to its N-terminal glycine and C-terminal leucine amide. The mature sequence is GMASKAGAIAGKIAKVALKAL-NH₂, comprising 21 residues without cysteine or disulphide bonds. Lysine residues provide positive charge, while numerous small and hydrophobic residues support an amphipathic helical arrangement in membrane environments. C-terminal amidation is part of the native molecular structure.
A distinctive feature of PGLa research is its sensitivity to bilayer architecture. Solid-state NMR and related biophysical methods have shown that its helix can adopt different membrane orientations under different experimental conditions. PGLa is also studied alongside Magainin II because the pair can display cooperative membrane activity. Such effects depend on lipid composition, peptide proportions and assay design; they do not establish a universal pore structure or a single receptor-mediated mechanism.
Laboratory notes
- For research use only; confirm C-terminal amidation when comparing material with native-sequence PGLa literature.
- Specify lipid acyl-chain composition and bilayer phase when interpreting orientation measurements or membrane leakage.
- In combination experiments, include each peptide separately and report their molar proportions to distinguish cooperative effects from independent activity.
Storage and reconstitution basics: storage guide.
Questions about PGLa
What does the name PGLa describe?
It refers to peptide glycine-leucine-amide, reflecting the N-terminal glycine and amidated C-terminal leucine.
Why is PGLa frequently studied with Magainin II?
The pair can produce cooperative membrane effects in selected bacterial and lipid-bilayer models, making them useful for studying interactions between membrane-active peptides.
Does PGLa always span the membrane?
No. Its orientation depends on factors such as lipid composition, bilayer properties and peptide surface density; surface-associated and more deeply inserted states have been investigated.
Is PGLa for human use?
No. It is supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and is not for human or animal consumption.
Related research peptides
All products are sold for laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption, not a medicine, not for diagnosing, treating or preventing any condition.