title: Expression and activity of a novel cathelicidin from domestic cats.
abstract: Cathelicidins are small cationic antimicrobial peptides found in many species including primates, mammals, marsupials, birds and even more primitive vertebrates, such as the hagfish. Some animals encode multiple cathelicidins in their genome, whereas others have only one. This report identifies and characterizes feline cathelicidin (feCath) as the sole cathelicidin in domestic cats (Felis catus). Expression of feCath is predominantly found in the bone marrow, with lower levels of expression in the gastrointestinal tract and skin. By immunocytochemistry, feCath localizes to the cytoplasm of neutrophils in feline peripheral blood. Structurally, the mature feCath sequence is most similar to a subgroup of cathelicidins that form linear α-helices. feCath possesses antimicrobial activity against E. coli D31, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (IR715), Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (clinical isolate) similar to that of the human ortholog, LL-37. In contrast, feCath lacks the DNA binding activity seen with LL-37. Given its similarity in sequence, structure, tissue expression, and antimicrobial activity, the cathelicidin encoded by cats, feCath, belongs to the subgroup of linear cathelicidins found not only in humans, but also non-human primates, dogs, mice, and rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Hiutung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Stanley L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bevins
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002415:Cats; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D054804:Cathelicidins