Purification of three antibacterial proteins from the culture medium of NIH-Sape-4, an embryonic cell line of Sarcophaga peregrina

J Biol Chem. 1988 Nov 15;263(32):17112-6.

Abstract

Three antibacterial proteins were purified from the culture medium of NIH-Sape-4, an embryonic cell line of Sarcophaga peregrina (flesh fly). Sequencing studies showed that two of these proteins belong to the sarcotoxin I family, potent antibacterial proteins purified from the hemolymph of Sarcophaga larvae, whereas the other protein, named sapecin, is a new protein consisting of 40 amino acid residues including 6 cysteine residues. Unlike sarcotoxin I, sapecin preferentially represses the growth of various Gram-positive bacteria. The proteins of the sarcotoxin I family produced by this cell line were found to have carboxyl-terminal glycine, whereas sarcotoxin I in the hemolymph has amidated amino acids. This suggests that the embryonic cells lack an enzyme that cleaves off carboxyl-terminal glycine to form a new amidated carboxyl terminus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Culture Media
  • Diptera / analysis*
  • Hemolymph / analysis
  • Insect Hormones / analysis
  • Insect Hormones / isolation & purification*
  • Insect Proteins*
  • Molecular Sequence Data

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Culture Media
  • Insect Hormones
  • Insect Proteins
  • sapecin protein, Sarcophaga
  • sarcotoxin I protein, Sarcophaga peregrina