title: Sequence characterization and expression patterns of two defensin-like antimicrobial peptides from the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis.
abstract: Two cDNAs encoding defensin-like antimicrobial peptides were cloned and sequenced from the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. The full-length cDNA of Hlgut-defensin (H. longicornis midgut defensin) is 333bp, encoding an expected protein with 73 amino acids. The full-length cDNA of Hlsal-defensin (H. longicornis salivary gland defensin) is 382bp, encoding an expected protein with 81 amino acids. The antibacterial activities of the synthetic peptides based on the Hlgut-defensin and Hlsal-defensin sequences were tested against a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Using real-time PCR, the tissue-specific expression of two defensin-like peptides were determined and it was also found that the gene transcripts of Hlgut-defensin and Hlsal-defensin were significantly induced by a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Frontier Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Korimoto 1-21-24, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors.forename: Jinlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Xuenan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujisaki
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D023082:Defensins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013987:Ticks / Q000737:chemistry*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D023082:Defensins; D010455:Peptides; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals