Structural determinants conferring unusual long life in human serum to rattlesnake‐derived antimicrobial peptide Ctn[15‐34]

Ctn[15‐34], a downsized version of the snake venom cathelicidin‐like peptide crotalicidin (Ctn), shows an unusually high lifespan ( t 1/2 , approximately 12 h) in human serum, which significantly adds to its promise as an antimicrobial and antitumor agent. Herein we investigate the role of Ctn[15‐34] structure on serum survival. Using a set of analogs, we show that C‐terminal amidation, as well as the specific layout of the Ctn[15‐34] sequence—a...