Molecular analysis of the sheep cathelin family reveals a novel antimicrobial peptide.
Cathelin-related genes are characterized by the presence of a prepro sequence which is highly conserved both within and between species. 3' RACE analysis on sheep bone marrow RNA, using a primer based on a conserved cathelin family coding region, demonstrated the presence of at least three ovine cathelin-related cDNAs. One of these encodes a novel prepropeptide with a predicted C-terminal cleavage product RGLRRLGRKIAHG-VKKYGPTVLRIIRIAG. The chemically synthesized form of this 29 amino acid peptide is shown to be a thermostable, broad spectrum, bactericidal agent.
Mahoney
M M
MM
Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA 02115, USA.
Lee
A Y
AY
Brezinski-Caliguri
D J
DJ
Huttner
K M
KM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001483:Base Sequence; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012756:Sheep
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011506:Proteins; C097710:SC5 synthetic antimicrobial peptide; C084515:cathelin