Computational analysis suggests beta-defensins are processed to mature peptides by signal peptidase

Protein Pept Lett. 2008;15(5):536-40. doi: 10.2174/092986608784567618.

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are generally produced as precursor peptides containing a signal sequence, a pro-region and the mature peptide. A computational analysis of beta-defensin precursors predicts cleavage solely by signal peptidase to release the mature peptide, with no pro-region. This supports the extensive transcriptional control of beta-defensin expression compared with other AMP genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Computational Biology / methods*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Precursors / chemistry
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • beta-Defensins / chemistry
  • beta-Defensins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protein Precursors
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • beta-Defensins
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • type I signal peptidase