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.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
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Blood Proteins / chemistry
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Blood Proteins / genetics
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Blood Proteins / isolation & purification
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Blood Proteins / pharmacology*
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Escherichia coli / drug effects
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Hemocytes / immunology*
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Listeria monocytogenes / drug effects
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Peptide Fragments / chemistry
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Peptide Fragments / genetics
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Peptide Fragments / isolation & purification
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Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
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Urochordata / immunology*
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Blood Proteins
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Peptide Fragments
Associated data
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GENBANK/P80710
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GENBANK/P80711
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GENBANK/P80712
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GENBANK/P80713