Anticancer peptide

Currently, anticancer peptides (ACPs) are categorized into two distinct types. The first type exhibits cytotoxic effects against bacteria and cancer cells while being non-toxic to normal cells, with notable examples including cecropins and magainins. The second type, represented by insect defensins and tachyplesin II, demonstrates destructive effects on bacteria, cancer cells, and normal cells alike. The non-toxic nature of the first type to normal cells endows them with considerable research significance and prospective applications.In our recent collection, we have focused exclusively on the first type of anticancer peptides. These peptides exhibit diversity in length and sequence, yet most share two common characteristics: cationic and amphipathic properties. Typically composed of 5 to 40 amino acids, these peptides contain arginine, lysine, and histidine, imparting them with a strong cationic nature, as evidenced by their surface net charges ranging from +2 to +9. The structural composition of these peptides, including hydrophilic and hydrophobic side chains, confers them with both hydrophilicity and lipophilicity. Most anticancer peptides possess either α-helical or β-sheet structures, wherein the amphipathic side chains are distributed on either side of the α-helix or concentrated at the extremities, resulting in distinct hydrophilic and hydrophobic faces or ends.This dataset of anticancer peptides, primarily focusing on the first type, is of paramount clinical research and application value. Therefore, we have decided to make this dataset publicly available for the prediction of broad-spectrum pharmacological anticancer peptides. This initiative not only facilitates the exploration of novel anticancer therapeutics but also contributes significantly to the advancement of cancer treatment research.

目前，抗癌肽（anticancer peptides, ACPs）可分为两类截然不同的类型。第一类可对细菌与癌细胞产生细胞毒性作用，同时对正常细胞无毒性，典型代表包括天蚕素（cecropins）与蛙皮素（magainins）。第二类则以昆虫防御素（insect defensins）和鲎素II（tachyplesin II）为代表，可对细菌、癌细胞及正常细胞均产生破坏作用。第一类抗癌肽对正常细胞的无毒特性赋予其极高的研究价值与应用前景。在我们近期的数据集收集中，仅聚焦于第一类抗癌肽。这类肽的长度与序列均存在多样性，但绝大多数具备两个共同特征：阳离子性与两亲性。这类肽通常由5至40个氨基酸组成，含有精氨酸、赖氨酸与组氨酸，这使其具备较强的阳离子特性，其表面净电荷介于+2至+9之间即可佐证这一点。这类肽的结构包含亲水与疏水侧链，使其同时兼具亲水性与亲脂性。绝大多数抗癌肽要么呈现α螺旋结构，要么为β折叠结构：在α螺旋结构中，两亲性侧链分布于螺旋两侧，或是集中于螺旋末端，从而形成清晰可辨的亲水与疏水面或末端。该数据集主要聚焦于第一类抗癌肽，具备极高的临床研究与应用价值。因此，我们决定将其公开，以供广谱药理活性抗癌肽的预测研究使用。此举不仅可为新型抗癌疗法的探索提供助力，还将极大推动癌症治疗研究的发展。