title: cDNA sequence and tissue expression of an antimicrobial peptide, dicentracin; a new component of the moronecidin family isolated from head kidney leukocytes of sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax.
abstract: A 483-bp cDNA was isolated from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) head kidney leukocytes, dicentracin, using PCR primers designed from conserved moronecidin domains. Gene bank analysis revealed that dicentracin cDNA belongs to the moronecidin family. As deduced from alignment with Morone chrysops moronecidin, the precursor of 79 aa appeared to be composed of a signal peptide of 22 aa, followed by the mature AMP (antimicrobial peptide) of 22 aa named dicentracin, and a C-terminal extension of 35 aa. Dicentracin precursor displayed 3 aa substitutions with other moronecidin sequence but none in the mature peptide sequence. Using in situ hybridization assay, dicentracin gene expression was observed in 68-71% of peripheral blood leukocytes, kidney leukocytes or peritoneal cavity leukocytes without significant statistical differences. Dicentracin mRNA was observed in most of the granulocytes, as well as in monocytes from both peripheral blood and head kidney, and in macrophages from peritoneal cavity. No expression was observed in thrombocytes or in lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Marine Immunobiology Laboratory, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: Nicolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parrinello
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roch
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cammarata
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001492:Bass / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029941:Fish Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C520532:dicentracin protein, Dicentrarchus labrax; C449802:moronecidin protein, Morone saxatilis