title: Cloning and characterization of two cDNA clones encoding seed-specific antimicrobial peptides from Mirabilis jalapa L.
abstract: We have isolated and characterized two cDNA clones (designated MJ1 and MJ2) encoding the two Mirabilis jalapa antimicrobial peptides (Mj-AMP1 and Mj-AMP2, respectively), which were previously purified from seeds of this plant species (Cammue et al. (1992), J Biol Chem 267: 2228-2233). In both cases, the deduced amino acid sequences reveal the presence of a putative signal sequence preceding the mature peptide, indicating that the Mj-AMPs are expressed as preproteins. The Mj-AMP1- and Mj-AMP2-encoding genes are interrupted in their coding sequences by a single intron (380 bp and 900 bp for Mj-AMP1 and Mj-AMP2 genes, respectively). Southern blot analysis indicates that the Mj-AMP-encoding genes belong to a gene family of low complexity. Northern blot analysis suggests seed-specific expression of Mj-AMPs since transcripts of the expected size could only be detected in near-mature and in mature seeds of M. jalapa.
authors.affiliation: F.A. Janssens Laboratory of Genetics, Catholic University of Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: De Bolle
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eggermont
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Terras
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Broekaert
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D015723:Gene Library; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D010455:Peptides; D010935:Plant Diseases; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: C072557:AMP1 protein, Mirabilis jalapa; C072558:AMP2 protein, Mirabilis jalapa; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010455:Peptides; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors