First report of a glutamine-rich antifungal peptide with immunomodulatory and antiproliferative activities from family Amaryllidaceae.
This represents the first report of purification of a glutamine-rich antifungal peptide from family Amarylliaceace. The peptide, designated as nartazin, was purified from the bulbs of the Chinese daffodil Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis by means of ion-exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography. Its molecular mass was 7.1kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration. Nartazin stimulated proliferation of mouse splenocytes and bone marrow cells but inhibited proliferation of leukemia L1210 cells. It also inhibited translation in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. The sequence of its first 20 N-terminal residues was characterized by an abundance of glutamine. The peptide possessed antifungal activity on four phytopathogenic fungi. Its activity was retained after incubation with bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin (enzyme: substrate ratio 1:10 w/w) at 37 degrees C for 1h but was attenuated after treatment with proteinase K. The data revealed its pronounced resistance to proteolytic digestion.
Chu
Kin Tak
KT
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Ng
Tzi Bun
TB
D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010455:Peptides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010940:Plant Proteins; C495391:nartazin; D005973:Glutamine