title: Sequence and expression of an Eisenia-fetida-derived cDNA clone that encodes the 40-kDa fetidin antibacterial protein.
abstract: Fetidins are 40-kDa and 45-kDa hemolytic and antibacterial glycoproteins present in the coelomic fluid of the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei. By screening a cDNA library with a polyclonal antifetidin serum, we have cloned a cDNA that encoded the 40-kDa fetidin. The clone contains an insert of 1.44 kb encoding a protein of 34 kDa, which corresponds to the size of deglycosylated fetidins. The recombinant protein inhibits Bacillus megaterium growth. Restriction fragment polymorphisms were observed on Southern blots and correspond to a known protein polymorphism. The sequence of the cDNA contains a peroxidase signature and fetidins from earthworm coelomic fluid have peroxidase activity. The 40-kDa and 45-kDa fetidins therefore represent two related polymorphic defence factors in invertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Département de Physiologie des Invertébrés, URA CNRS 1138, Université de Bordeaux I, Talence, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lassegues
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milochau
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doignon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Du Pasquier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valembois
mesh_terms: D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila; D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D001410:Bacillus megaterium; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009835:Oligochaeta; D043524:Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C103929:fetidin; D009195:Peroxidase; D000581:Amidohydrolases; D043524:Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase