Antimicrobial activity spectrum, cDNA cloning, and mRNA expression of a newly isolated member of the cecropin family from the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti
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| Authors: | Lowenberger, C; Charlet, M; Vizioli, J; Kamal, S; Richman, A; Christensen, BM; Bulet, P |
| Year: | 1999 |
| Journal: | Journal of Biological Chemistry 274: 20092-20097 |
| Title: | Antimicrobial activity spectrum, cDNA cloning, and mRNA expression of a newly isolated member of the cecropin family from the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti |
| Abstract: | An antimicrobial peptide belonging to the cecropin family was isolated from the hemolymph of bacteria-challenged adult Aedes aegypti. This new peptide, named cecropin A, was purified to homogeneity and fully characterized after cDNA cloning. The 34-residue A. aegypti cecropin A is different from the majority of reported insect cecropins in that it is devoid of a tryptophan residue and C-terminal amidation. The importance of these two structural features on the activity spectrum was investigated using a chemically synthesized peptide. A comparison of the antimicrobial activity spectrum of A. aegypti and Drosophila cecropin A showed a lower activity for the mosquito molecule. A. aegypti cecropin mRNA expression was not detected by Northern blot or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis in any immature stage of the mosquito, nor in naive adults, but it was observed in challenged adults 6 h after bacteria inoculation, and it continued over 7-10 days. |
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