title: An orthologue of the host-defense protein psoriasin (S100A7) is expressed in frog skin.
abstract: Host-defense peptides and proteins are vital for first line protection against bacteria. Most host-defense peptides and proteins common in vertebrates have been studied primarily in mammals, while their orthologues in non-mammalian vertebrates received less attention. We found that the European Common Frog Rana temporaria expresses a protein in its skin that is evolutionarily related to the host-defense protein S100A7. This prompted us to test if the encoded protein, which is an important microbicidal protein in human skin, shows similar activity in frogs. The R. temporaria protein lacks the zinc-binding sites that are key to the antimicrobial activity of human S100A7 at neutral pH. However, despite being less potent, the R. temporaria protein does compromise bacterial membranes at low pH, similar to its human counterpart. We postulate that, while amphibian S100A7 likely serves other functions, the capacity to compromise bacterial cell membranes evolved early in tetrapod evolution.
authors: Amphibian Evolution Lab, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Severine
authors: S
authors: Matthijs
authors: Viral Genetics Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Hernalsteens
authors: Amphibian Evolution Lab, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: kroelant@vub.ac.be.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Roelants
mesh_terms: D029845:Amphibian Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D011896:Rana temporaria / Q000276:immunology*; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029845:Amphibian Proteins; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7; C089242:S100A7 protein, human; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Host-defense peptide; Psoriasin; S100A7