Structural and biophysical characterization of an antimicrobial peptide chimera comprised of lactoferricin and lactoferrampin

► Unique antimicrobial peptide comprised of lactoferricin and lactoferrampin. ► First NMR structure reported for a peptide heterodimer joined through a Lys linker. ► Enhanced membrane perturbation by the heterodimer compared to constituent peptides. ► Biophysical evidence correlates with the increased antimicrobial potency. ► Merits of a co-solvent mixture as a membrane mimetic in NMR studies is discussed.