Work

Clavanins, α‐helical antimicrobial peptides from tunicate hemocytes

Year: 1997

Type: article

Abstract: Hemocytes from the invertebrate Styela clava, a solitary tunicate, contained a family of four alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides that were purified, sequenced and named clavanins A, B, C and D. Each clavanin contained 23 amino acid residues and was C-terminally amidated. The tunicate peptides resembled magainins in size, primary sequence and antibacterial activity. Synthetic clavanin A was prepared and displayed comparable antimicrobial activity to magainins and cecropins. The presence of alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides in the hemocytes of a urochordate suggests that such peptides are primeval effectors of innate immunity in the vertebrate lineage.

Source: FEBS Letters

DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(96)01374-9

Authors: I.Hee Lee, Chengquan Zhao, Yoon Cho, Sylvia S.L Harwig, Edwin L Cooper, Robert I Lehrer

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities

Subfield: Microbiology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: American Association of Immunologists, Korea Science and Engineering Foundation, National Cancer Institute, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

Awards: G1512897380, Cancer Center Support Grant