Alpha-defensin dimers Alpha-defensins form biologically active dimers Authored: Jupe, S, 2011-04-28 Edited: Jupe, S, 2011-07-27 Pubmed1445872 Pubmed17088326 Pubmed17254301 Pubmed2006422 Pubmed20097206 Pubmed20961099 Reactome Database ID Release 431462014 Reactome, http://www.reactome.org ReactomeREACT_115822 Reviewed: McDermott, AM, 2011-11-03 The crystal structure of human alpha-defensin HNP-3 revealed that it forms a dimer containing a six-stranded beta-sheet region (Hill et al. 1991). NMR studies indicate that HNP-1 can also form dimers or higher-order aggregates in solution and artificial lipid bilayers (Zhang et al. 1992, 2010a, 2010b). Models of alpha and beta defensins suggest that dimerization and/or higher order structures are characteristic, though not univeral or required for the biological effects of some beta-defensins (Suresh & Verma 2006, Pazgier et al. 2006). has a Stoichiometric coefficient of 2 Alpha-defensins