title: Isolation of lysozyme and an antifungal peptide from sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) plasma.
abstract: The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) belongs to the most primitive class of fish and has only innate immunity. The innate immune factors, lysozyme and an antifungal peptide, were isolated from sea lamprey plasma. Sea lamprey plasma (40.1mg protein/ml) was assayed for lysozyme activity by gel diffusion assay. Using hen egg white lysozyme standards, plasma concentration of lamprey lysozyme was 5microg lysozyme/mg total protein. The presence of lysozyme in such high concentration in lamprey plasma could be important in their innate immunity and resistance to infection. Lysozyme and the antifungal peptide were isolated by low molecular weight gel filtration chromatography from sea lamprey plasma. Gel filtration chromatography yielded two peak tubes containing lysozyme (1microg/211microg total protein) and antifungal peptide (1microg/66microg total protein). Lysozyme and antifungal activity of each fraction were determined by well diffusion assay using Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and two fungal species. The molecular weight of lamprey lysozyme was 14.3kDa. The sea lamprey lysozyme was effective against Gram-positive bacteria but not against Gram-negative bacteria or fungi. Molecular weight of the antifungal peptide was approximately 3000Da. Antifungal plasma activity was seen against Penicillium notatum and Aspergillus flavus. No plasma antibacterial peptide was found.
authors: Department of Biology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-3560, USA.
authors: Wendy M
authors: WM
authors: Rose
authors: Donald D
authors: DD
authors: Ourth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009113:Muramidase / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010408:Penicillium chrysogenum / Q000187:drug effects; D048428:Petromyzon / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D029941:Fish Proteins; D009113:Muramidase