Tumor Cell Attack by Crotalicidin (Ctn) and Its Fragment Ctn[15–34]: Insights into Their Dual Membranolytic and Intracellular Targeting Mechanism

Crotalicidin (Ctn) and its fragment Ctn[15–34] are snake-venom-derived, cathelicidin-related peptides outstanding for their promising antimicrobial, antifungal, and antitumoral properties. In this study, we describe their membranolytic mechanisms as well as their putative interference with intracellular targets, both contributing to their antitumoral action against a pro-monocytic leukemia cell line. Initial flow cytometry assays demonstrated...