Human β‐defensin 4: a novel inducible peptide with a specific salt‐sensitive spectrum of antimicrobial activity

TLDR

The study aimed to identify and characterize a novel human β‑defensin, analyzing its genomic structure, tissue distribution, regulation, and assessing its antimicrobial and chemoattractant activities. Researchers performed BLAST searches of genomic and cDNA sequences around human β‑defensin 2 on chromosome 8p23, screened accession numbers AF202031, AF252831, AF189745, and AC074340 for the β‑defensin consensus pattern, and identified the novel peptide. Clone AF202031 encoded the carboxy‑terminal region of a previously uncharacterized β‑defensin, which was designated hBD‑4 and found in multiple GenBank HTG clones.

Abstract

SPECIFIC AIMSThe aim of this study was to identify and characterize a novel human member of the β-defensin family by screening genomic sequences, analyze its genomic structure, tissue distribution, and regulation, and evaluate its antimicrobial and chemoattractant activities.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. Analysis of the genomic and cDNA sequences of the novel β-defensinTo identify genomic sequences around human β-defensin 2 at the chromosomal region 8p23, the peptide sequence of this β-defensin was used to perform a ‘basic local alignment search tool’ (BLAST) search in the High Throughput Genomic (HTG) division of the GenBank. Accession numbers AF202031, AF252831, AF189745, and AC074340 were found and subsequently screened for the presence of the β-defensin consensus pattern. Analysis of the clone AF202031 revealed a genomic sequence coding for the carboxy-terminal region of a putative novel β-defensin, which was found in several HTG clones available at GenBank and subsequently termed hBD-4. The full-length cDNA f...