Fiche publication
Date publication
janvier 2005
Auteurs
Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr VAN DORSSELAER Alain
Tous les auteurs :
Herbiniere J, Braquart-Varnier C, Greve P, Strub JM, Frere J, Van Dorsselaer A, Martin G
Lien Pubmed
Résumé
We report the isolation and the characterization of a novel antibacterial peptide from hemocytes of the woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare, naturally infected or uninfected by Wolbachia, an intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. This molecule displays antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria despite its composition which classes it into the glycine-rich antibacterial peptide family, usually directed against fungi and Gram-negative bacteria. The complete sequence was determined by a combination of Edman degradation, mass spectrometry and cDNA cloning using a hemocyte library. The mature peptide (53 residues) has a 5259 Da molecular mass and is post-translationally modified by a C-terminal amidation. This peptide is characterized by a high level of glycine (47%) and a fivefold repeated motif GGGFH(R/S). As no evident sequence homology to other hitherto described antibacterial peptides has been found out, this antibacterial peptide was named armadillidin. Armadillidin is constitutively expressed in hemocytes and appears to be specific of A. vulgare.
Référence
Dev Comp Immunol. 2005;29(6):489-99
