Peptaibols are biologically active peptides containing between seven and twenty amino acid residues, some of which are non-proteinogenic amino acids.
In particular, they contain α-aminoisobutyric acid along with other unusual aminoacids such as ethylnorvaline, isovaline and hydroxyproline; the N-terminus is acetylated, and the C-terminal amino acid is hydroxylated to an acid alcohol.
They are named pebtaibols due to them being peptides containing α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) and ending in an alcohol.
[1] They are produced by certain fungi, mainly in the genus Trichoderma, as secondary metabolites which function as antibiotics and antifungal agents.
[3] They are amphipathic which allows them to form voltage-dependent ion channels in cell membranes which create holes in the membrane making them leaky and leading to the death of the cells.