Additional Tools for Antimicrobial Peptides (updated Jan 2026)
There are additional tools for antimicrobial peptide research and education, which can accessed via the following links.
1. Predict antimicrobial peptides by machine learning
You can try select prediction tools in the APD Links. Machine learning predicted and experiment-validated sequences are collected in the APD as a new peptide group.
2. Predict the cleavage sites of signal peptides
You can use the 2022 new version SignalP-6.0.
3. Identify known antimicrobial peptides most similar to your new peptide
The APD first enabled sequence comparison in 2003 initially providing five most similar sequences. You can find out identical or similar sequences by using the APD prediction tool here. You need click on "do alignment" after "showing me the helix formation".
4. Multiple peptide sequence alignment
A set of alingment programs are available for this purpose.
For instance: ou can do the multiple sequence alignment of either polypeptides or nucleic acids using ClustalW2 or T-Coffee.
5. Molecular evolutionary genetics analysis (MEGA) tool: How to build a phylogenetic tree for sequences?
You can analyze the evolutional relationship of thousands of AMP sequences using MEGA11.
6. Translate tool
You can translate a nucleotide (DNA/RNA) sequence to a protein sequence ExPASy Translate.
7. Peptide helical wheel, hydrophobicity and hydrophobic moment
You can figure it out here.
Another program NetWheel is also online http://lbqp.unb.br/NetWheels here.
8. Peptide net charge, hydrophobic percentage and amino acid compostion
This database enabled this calculations in 2003. Peptide net charge, hydrophobic content, and amino acid compostion can be calculated using this APD tool.
9. Peptide molecular weight, molecular formula and extinction coefficient
The APD enabled these calculations in 2012. Peptide molecular weight, molecular formula, and extinction coefficient for UV quantification can be calculated using the APD tool link.
10. GRAVY and Wimley-White whole-residue hydrophobicity
The grand average hydropathy and the Wimley-White whole-residue hydrophobicity have been programmed into the APD and can be calculated using the APD calculatation tool by entering the peptide amino acid sequence.
11. Boman index (i.e. protein-binding potential)
Boman index (see Glossary for defintion) can be calculated using the APD tool here by entering the peptide amino acid sequence.
12. Peptide isoelectric point pI, estimated half life, instability index and aliphatic index calculations
All these parameters can be calculated here using ExPASy.
13. ProScale: Amino acid property profiles for peptides
A variety of peptide profiles can be generated using ProtScale. It can be any property (molecualr weight, bulkiness, polarity, recognition factors, HPLC retention time, helix, and so on). It provides information for each amino acid. For instance, a hydrophobic scale plot enables you to see the amphipathicity pattern of the sequence.
14. Peptide stability: predict the potential cleavage sites by proteases or chemicals
You can use PeptideCutter
15. Peptide half life in intestine-like environment
It can be estimated using the HLP tool.
16. Peptide cell penetrating ability
This ability can be determined by CellPPD tool.
17. Peptide antigenicity, allergic potential and toxicity
This ability can be determined by antigenic prediction.
18. HPLC retention time prediction
You can predict it using Retention Prediction Server.
19. Open Reading Frame Finder
You can access this website here.
20. Circular dichroism (CD) data analysis
You can analyze your CD data here.
21. Peptide/Protein secondary structure prediction
You may predict the secondary structure of antimicrobial peptides using PSIPRED or JPred or S4Pred or SOPMA.
22. Cysteine state and disulfide bond partner prediction
You can access DiANNA here.
23. Full chain protein tertiary structure prediction for academic users
You may predict the structure of protein-like AMPs such as defensins using Rosetta. Another structure prediction program is I-TASSER. Peptide structures may be predicted using PEP-FOLD4, a de novo approach or SWIS-MODEL, which build a structural model based on a known template.
24. Artificial intelligence (AI) protein structure prediction
AlphaFold 3 freely available (May 2024).
25. Heterologous recombinant expression of antimicrobial peptides
Depending on the expression host, you can optimize the codons for your peptide production using online tools or commecial services.