Fig. 3

The four major mechanisms of AMP activity. When the contact between AMPs and the bacterial plasma membranes reaches a critical level, the following four interactions can occur between the AMPs and the plasma membranes. a barrel-stave pore: AMPs insert vertically in the plasma membrane to form transmembrane pores. b carpet mechanism: Peptides are adsorbed parallel to the lipid bilayer to cover the cell surface, causing membrane rupture. c toroidal pore: an intermediate type between the carpet mechanism and the barrel-stave pore.Peptides and lipids form the pores. d disordered toroidal pore: Pore formation is more random and involves fewer peptides, but additional peptides are required to stabilize the opening