Hybridization between the African clawed frogs Xenopus laevis and Xenopus muelleri (Pipidae) increases the multiplicity of antimicrobial peptides in skin secretions of female offspring.
Peptidomic analysis was used to compare the distribution of host-defense peptides in norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions from laboratory-generated female F1 hybrids of the common clawed frog Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802) and Mueller's clawed frog Xenopus muelleri (Peters, 1844) with the corresponding distribution in skin secretions from the parent species. A total of 18 peptides were identified in secretions from the hybrid frogs. Eleven peptides (magainin-1, magainin-2, CPF-1, CPF-3, CPF-4, CPF-5, CPF-6, CPF-7, XPF-1, XPF-2, and PGLa) were identified in secretions of both the hybrids and X. laevis. Four peptides (magainin-M1, XPF-M1, CPF-M1, and tigerinin-M1) were previously found in skin secretions of X. muelleri but magainin-M2 and CPF-M2 from X. muelleri were not detected. Three previously undescribed peptides (magainin-LM1, PGLa-LM1, and CPF-LM1) were purified from the secretions of the hybrid frogs that were not detected in secretions from either X. laevis or X. muelleri. Magainin-LM1 differs from magainin-2 from X. laevis by a single amino acid substitution (Gly(13)→Ala) but PGLa-LM1 and CPF-LM1 differ appreciably in structure from orthologs in the parent species. CPF-LM1 shows potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and is hemolytic. The data indicate that hybridization increases the multiplicity of skin host-defense peptides in skin secretions. As the female F1 hybrids are fertile, hybridization may represent an adaptive strategy among Xenopus species to increase protection against pathogenic microorganisms in the environment.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, 17666 Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Milena
M
Mechkarska
Mohammed
M
Meetani
Pawel
P
Michalak
Zalman
Z
Vaksman
Koji
K
Takada
J Michael
JM
Conlon
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D056148:Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014981:Xenopus / Q000235:genetics*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics*
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides