Final answer:
AMPs disrupt cell membranes primarily through the barrel-stave model and the carpet mechanism. The barrel-stave model forms pores in the membrane, while the carpet mechanism covers and disintegrates the membrane, both altering permeability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are pivotal in disrupting cell membranes through various mechanisms. Two notable examples of AMP-induced permeabilization involve the barrel-stave model and the carpet mechanism. In the barrel-stave model, AMPs insert into the membrane perpendicularly and assemble into a pore that disrupts the membrane's integrity, allowing ions and molecules to flow freely through this newly formed channel. In contrast, the carpet mechanism sees AMPs adsorbing parallel to the membrane surface until a critical coverage is achieved, subsequently leading to a detergent-like disintegration of the membrane, reminiscent of how a carpet covers a floor. Both mechanisms rely on hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between the AMPs and the lipid bilayer to alter membrane permeability.
These processes are essential for the biological roles of AMPs, which include defense against a broad spectrum of pathogens by compromising their cellular membranes. The impact of AMPs on cell membrane permeability can be drastic, completely disrupting or permeabilizing the lipid bilayer and ultimately leading to cell death. Given their importance, understanding the action of AMPs helps in the development of new antimicrobial agents.