Snakin-1 (SN1) from potato is a cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptide with high evolutionary conservation. It has 63 amino acid residues, 12 of which are cysteines capable of forming six disulfide bonds. SN1 localizes in the plasma membrane, and it is present mainly in tissues associated with active growth and cell division. SN1 is active in vitro against bacteria, fungus, yeasts, and even animal/human pathogens. It was demonstrated that it also confers in vivo protection against commercially relevant pathogens in overexpressing potato, wheat, and lettuce plants. Although researchers have demonstrated SN1 can disrupt the membranes of E. coli, its integral antimicrobial mechanism remains unknown. It is likely that broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity is a combined outcome of membrane disruption and inhibition of intracellular functions. Besides, in potato, partial SN1 silencing affects cell division, leaf metabolism, and cell wall composition, thus revealing additional roles in growth and development. Its silencing also affects reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS scavenger levels. This finding indicates its participation in redox balance. Moreover, SN1 alters hormone levels, suggesting its involvement in the complex hormonal crosstalk. Altogether, SN1 has the potential to integrate development and defense signals directly and/or indirectly by modulating protein activity, modifying hormone balance and/or participating in redox regulation. Evidence supports a paramount role to SN1 in the mechanism underlying growth and immunity balance. Furthermore, SN1 may be a promising candidate in preservation, and pharmaceutical or agricultural biotechnology applications.

马铃薯中的Snakin-1（SN1）是富含半胱氨酸的抗菌肽，具有高度的进化保守性。它具有63个氨基酸残基，其中12个是能够形成六个二硫键的半胱氨酸。SN1位于质膜中，主要存在于与活动性生长和细胞分裂相关的组织中。SN1在体外对细菌，真菌，酵母菌甚至动物/人类病原体具有活性。事实证明，在过表达马铃薯，小麦和生菜的植物中，它还赋予了针对商业相关病原体的体内保护。尽管研究人员已经证明SN1可以破坏大肠杆菌的膜，其完整的抗菌机制仍然未知。广谱抗菌活性可能是膜破坏和细胞内功能抑制的综合结果。此外，在马铃薯中，部分SN1沉默会影响细胞分裂，叶片代谢和细胞壁组成，从而揭示其在生长发育中的其他作用。它的沉默也会影响活性氧（ROS）和ROS清除剂的水平。该发现表明其参与了氧化还原平衡。此外，SN1会改变激素水平，表明其参与了复杂的激素串扰。总之，SN1具有通过调节蛋白质活性，调节激素平衡和/或参与氧化还原调节而直接和/或间接整合发育和防御信号的潜力。证据支持SN1在潜在的生长和免疫平衡机制中至关重要。此外，SN1在保存，制药或农业生物技术应用中可能是很有前途的候选者。