Cecropin

Cecropins are antimicrobial peptides. They were first isolated from the hemolymph of Hyalophora cecropia, whence the term cecropin was derived. Cecropins lyse bacterial cell membranes; they also inhibit proline uptake and cause leaky membranes.

Cecropins constitute a main part of the cell-free immunity of insects. Cecropins are small proteins of about 31 - 37 amino acid residues active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Cecropins isolated from insects other than Hyalophora cecropia (Cecropia moth) have been given various names; bactericidin, lepidopterin, sarcotoxin, etc. All of these peptides are structurally related.