What is "lactoferricin"

n. Any of a group of amphipathic, cationic peptides with antimicrobial and anticancer properties

Lactoferricin is an amphipathic, cationic peptide with anti- microbial and anti- cancer properties. It can be generated by the pepsin-mediated digestion of lactoferrin.

Lactoferricin is the most studied AMP derived from milk protein. The complete sequence of lactoferricin corresponds to lactoferrin fragment 17-41 (FKCRRWQWRM KKLGAPSITCVRRAF; LFB0084) and sequences from within this fragment are also antimicrobial. The MilkAMP database contains a total of 111 peptides (natural, synthetic and modified) comprising or derived from the complete lactoferricin. In humans, lactoferricin corresponds to lactoferrin fragment 1-47 but consists of two subunits, namely fragments 1-11 and 12-47 (LFH0009), connected by a disulfide bridge.