title: Characterization of Histone H2A Derived Antimicrobial Peptides, Harriottins, from Sicklefin Chimaera Neoharriotta pinnata (Schnakenbeck, 1931) and Its Evolutionary Divergence with respect to CO1 and Histone H2A.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are humoral innate immune components of fishes that provide protection against pathogenic infections. Histone derived antimicrobial peptides are reported to actively participate in the immune defenses of fishes. Present study deals with identification of putative antimicrobial sequences from the histone H2A of sicklefin chimaera, Neoharriotta pinnata. A 52 amino acid residue termed Harriottin-1, a 40 amino acid Harriottin-2, and a 21 mer Harriottin-3 were identified to possess antimicrobial sequence motif. Physicochemical properties and molecular structure of Harriottins are in agreement with the characteristic features of antimicrobial peptides, indicating its potential role in innate immunity of sicklefin chimaera. The histone H2A sequence of sicklefin chimera was found to differ from previously reported histone H2A sequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on histone H2A and cytochrome oxidase subunit-1 (CO1) gene revealed N. pinnata to occupy an intermediate position with respect to invertebrates and vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi 682016, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sathyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi 682016, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Rosamma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi 682016, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Chaithanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi 682016, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Anil Kumar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kakkanad, Kochi 682037, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Sanjeevan
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health (NCAAH), CUSAT, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi 682016, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: I S Bright
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Singh