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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Genomics / The repertoire of equine intestinal alpha-defensins.
BMC genomics2009; 10; 631; doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-631

The repertoire of equine intestinal alpha-defensins.

Abstract: Defensins represent an important class of antimicrobial peptides. These effector molecules of the innate immune system act as endogenous antibiotics to protect the organism against infections with pathogenic microorganisms. Mammalian defensins are classified into three distinct sub-families (alpha-, beta- and theta-defensins) according to their specific intramolecular disulfide-bond pattern. The peptides exhibit an antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. Alpha-Defensins are primarily synthesised in neutrophils and intestinal Paneth cells. They play a role in the pathogenesis of intestinal diseases and may regulate the flora of the intestinal tract. An equine intestinal alpha-defensin (DEFA1), the first characterised in the Laurasiatheria, shows a broad antimicrobial spectrum against human and equine pathogens. Here we report a first investigation of the repertoire of equine intestinal alpha-defensins. The equine genome was screened for putative alpha-defensin genes by using known alpha-defensin sequences as matrices. Based on the obtained sequence information, a set of oligonucleotides specific to the alpha-defensin gene-family was designed. The products generated by reverse-transcriptase PCR with cDNA from the small intestine as template were sub-cloned and numerous clones were sequenced. Results: Thirty-eight equine intestinal alpha-defensin transcripts were determined. After translation it became evident that at least 20 of them may code for functional peptides. Ten transcripts lacked matching genomic sequences and for 14 alpha-defensin genes apparently present in the genome no appropriate transcript could be verified. In other cases the same genomic exons were found in different transcripts. Conclusions: The large repertoire of equine alpha-defensins found in this study points to a particular importance of these peptides regarding animal health and protection from infectious diseases. Moreover, these findings make the horse an excellent species to study biological properties of alpha-defensins. Interestingly, the peptides were not found in other species of the Laurasiatheria to date. Comparison of the obtained transcripts with the genomic sequences in the current assembly of the horse (EquCab2.0) indicates that it is yet not complete and/or to some extent falsely assembled.
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Publication Date: 2009-12-23 PubMed ID: 20030839PubMed Central: PMC2803202DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-631Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article studies the classification and function of defensins, focusing specifically on alpha-defensins found in the equine intestinal tract. The study analysed the equine genome to understand the diverse range of these peptides and discovered a broad antimicrobial spectrum effective against various pathogens.

Understanding Defensins

  • Defensins are a type of antimicrobial peptide, which acts as an innate antibiotic, providing protection against various microorganisms.
  • Mammalian defensins are put into three sub-categories – alpha-, beta-, and theta-defensins, classified through their specific disulfide-bond pattern.
  • These peptides display antimicrobial action against a wide range of microorganisms, including dangerous bacteria and fungi.

Role of Alpha-Defensins in Equine Intestinal System

  • Alpha-Defensins are found primarily in neutrophils and intestinal Paneth cells and play a key role in the development of intestinal diseases. They might also regulate the flora present in the intestinal tract.
  • The research specifically focuses on an equine intestinal alpha-defensin (DEFA1). This defensin exhibits a broad antimicrobial spectrum useful against both human and equine pathogens.

Studying the Equine Intestinal Alpha-Defensins

  • The study involved screening the equine genome for possible alpha-defensin genes using existing alpha-defensin sequences as references.
  • The collected sequence information was used to design a set of oligonucleotides specific to the alpha-defensin gene-family for further investigation.

Results and Conclusions

  • The analysis of the equine genome identified thirty-eight equine intestinal alpha-defensin transcripts.
  • Among these, at least 20 might code for functional peptides, while ten transcripts showed no matching genomic sequences.
  • Of the 14 alpha-defensin genes apparently present in the genome, no appropriate transcript could be verified.
  • Several cases showed that identical genomic exons were found in different transcripts.
  • The researchers concluded that the substantial repertory of equine alpha-defensins suggests their critical importance to animal health and guarding against infectious diseases.
  • The results indicate that horses could serve as an ideal species for studying the biological properties of alpha-defensins.
  • This study further sheds light on incomplete or incorrect assembly in the current version of the horse genome (EquCab2.0).

Cite This Article

APA
Bruhn O, Paul S, Tetens J, Thaller G. (2009). The repertoire of equine intestinal alpha-defensins. BMC Genomics, 10, 631. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-10-631

Publication

BMC genomics
ISSN: 1471-2164
NlmUniqueID: 100965258
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 10
Pages: 631

Researcher Affiliations

Bruhn, Oliver
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Hermann-Rodewald-Strasse 6, D-24118 Kiel, Germany. obruhn@tierzucht.uni-kiel.de
Paul, Sven
    Tetens, Jens
      Thaller, Georg

        MeSH Terms

        • Amino Acid Sequence
        • Animals
        • DNA, Complementary / genetics
        • Genome
        • Horses / genetics
        • Intestine, Small / metabolism
        • Molecular Sequence Data
        • Multigene Family
        • Sequence Alignment
        • Sequence Analysis, DNA
        • alpha-Defensins / genetics

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