title: Human beta-defensins.
abstract: The last decade led to the discovery and characterization of several human beta-defensins. Analysis of genomic information indicates that the number of beta-defensin-like molecules encoded by the human genome may number in the tens. Growing interest in beta-defensins steadily enhances our knowledge about various aspects of their gene location, expression patterns and the transcription factors involved in their regulation in vivo. The hallmark property of beta-defensins, their antimicrobial activity, is clearly only the tip of the iceberg in the extensive network of inter-relations within the immune system in which these peptides function. Structural studies of beta-defensins provide the molecular basis for a better understanding of their properties, functions and their potential for practical applications. In this review, we present some recent advances in the studies of human beta-defensins, with an emphasis on possible correlations between their structural and functional properties.
authors.affiliation: Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pazgier
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hoover
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lubkowski
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D023083:beta-Defensins