Practice question

Antimicrobial peptides such as defensins and cathelicidins are cationic molecules that disrupt microbial membranes by forming pores or micelles. α-Defensins are stored in neutrophil granules and Paneth cells, while β-defensins are produced by epithelial cells. Their broad-spectrum activity constitutes an important chemical barrier of innate immunity at mucosal and epithelial surfaces.