Characterization of the antimicrobial peptide family defensins in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), and tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii)

Elizabeth A Jones; Yuanyuan Cheng; Denis O'Meally; Katherine Belov

doi:10.1007/s00251-016-0959-1

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Characterization of the antimicrobial peptide family defensins in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), and tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii)

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Characterization of the antimicrobial peptide family defensins in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), and tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii)

Elizabeth A Jones, Yuanyuan Cheng, Denis O'Meally and Katherine Belov

Immunogenetics, Vol.69(3), pp.133-143

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-016-0959-1

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Abstract

Tasmanian devil

koala

tammar wallaby

defensin

evolution

Defensins comprise a family of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides with important roles in innate and adaptive immune defense in vertebrates. We characterized alpha and beta defensin genes in three Australian marsupials: the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), and tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) and identified 48, 34, and 39 defensins, respectively. One hundred and twelve have the classical antimicrobial peptides characteristics required for pathogen membrane targeting, including cationic charge (between 1+ and 15+) and a high proportion of hydrophobic residues (>30%). Phylogenetic analysis shows that gene duplication has driven unique and species-specific expansions of devil, koala, and tammar wallaby beta defensins and devil alpha defensins. Defensin genes are arranged in three genomic clusters in marsupials, whereas further duplications and translocations have occurred in eutherians resulting in four and five gene clusters in mice and humans, respectively. Marsupial defensins are generally under purifying selection, particularly residues essential for defensin structural stability. Certain hydrophobic or positively charged sites, predominantly found in the defensin loop, are positively selected, which may have functional significance in defensin-target interaction and membrane insertion.

Details

Title: Characterization of the antimicrobial peptide family defensins in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), and tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii)
Authors: Elizabeth A Jones (Author) - University of Sydney
Yuanyuan Cheng (Author) - University of Sydney
Denis O'Meally (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Katherine Belov (Author) - University of Sydney
Publication details: Immunogenetics, Vol.69(3), pp.133-143
Publisher: Springer
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.1007/s00251-016-0959-1
ISSN: 0093-7711
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450923202621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Genetics & Heredity; Immunology

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