title: Characterization and cDNA cloning of a defensin-like peptide, harmoniasin, from Harmonia axyridis.
abstract: We compared the mRNA expression profile of the Harmonia axyridis larvae that were either untreated or treated with LPS. The extracted mRNAs were subjected to ACP RTPCR analysis using a combination of arbitrary primers and oligo (dT) primer. Among the 47 DEGs differentially expressed, we identified a cDNA showing homology with defensin-like antibacterial peptide. The cDNA showed a putative 32-residue signal sequence and a 50-residue mature peptide named harmoniasin. We also investigated the antibacterial activity of the harmoniasin analog, which exhibited potent antibacterial activities against Gramnegative and -positive bacteria strains and it also evidenced no hemolytic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon 441-707, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Woo
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joon-Ha
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ha-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young-Nam
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Sung-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Seong-Ryul
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jae Sam
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D023082:Defensins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D023082:Defensins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals