title: Equine beta-defensin-1: full-length cDNA sequence and tissue expression.
abstract: beta-Defensins are cysteine-rich endogenously produced antimicrobial peptides that play an important role in innate immune defense. Although, previous investigations have identified beta-defensins in several mammalian species, no reports have identified equine beta-defensins. Using a strategy of database searching for expressed sequence tags (EST) we identified putative expression of equine beta-defensins in hepatic tissue. Based on this information, sequence specific primers were designed for the equine gene enabling the identification of the full-length cDNA sequence of equine beta-defensin-1. Comparative analyses showed that equine beta-defensin-1 has 46-52% amino-acid identity with other beta-defensins, sharing the greatest identity with porcine beta-defensin-1. Complete conservation of cysteine residues was maintained between the species evaluated, and RT-PCR analysis revealed diverse mRNA tissue expression for equine beta-defensin-1. These data extend the repertoire of equine antimicrobial peptides and expand our understanding of equine innate immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. edavis@vet.k-state.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Yongming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blecha
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D006736:Horses / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D023083:beta-Defensins