Fremont, CA – June 21, 2010 Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are peptides that form part of the host’s important innate immunity mechanism against pathogenic microorganisms such as Gram positive and negative bacteria, fungi and viruses.1-2 AMPs are short peptides (<60 amino acids), exhibit a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity at physiological conditions and are predominantly cationic.2 Cathelicidins and defensins, the two extensively studied AMP families, are expressed in immune cells and at epithelial surfaces in humans.3-5 AnaSpec is pleased to introduce a new selection of antimicrobial peptides as part of its GO® Peptides collection.
hCAP18, human cationic antimicrobial protein, with a MW of 18 kD, is the only cathelicidin gene found in humans.1 The N-terminus of this protein consists of a cathelin-like region (highly conserved among species) and a C-terminal termed LL-37.6-7 An amphipathic alpha-helical peptide, LL-37 plays an important role in the first line of defense against local infection and systemic invasion of pathogens at sites of inflammation and wounds. Cytotoxic to both bacterial and normal eukaryotic cells, LL-37 is significantly resistant to proteolytic degradation in solution.8-9 In addition to having antimicrobial activity, LL-37 has been shown to play a role in chemoattraction, dendritic cell differentiation, mast cell degranulation, cytokine secretion, angiogenesis stimulation, and wound healing.10 In other species, the C-terminal antimicrobial region varies in sizes, sequences and structures.10
The defensins are a large family of small, cationic, cysteine- and arginine-rich antimicrobial peptides. They are divided into five groups according to the spacing pattern of cysteines: plant, invertebrate, a-, ß-, and ?-defensins. The latter three are mostly found in mammals. a-defensins are proteins found in neutrophils and intestinal epithelia. Human neutrophil peptides (HNP) 1-3 are microbicidal and cytotoxic defensins derived from a 94-amino acid prepro HNP1-94, co-translationally proteolyzed to proHNP20-94, then converted by removal of the anionic propiece to mature HNP65-94 (HNP-1 and -3) and HNP66-94 (HNP-2). HNP 1-4 comprise up to approximately 5% of the total cellular protein of neutrophils.11-13
References
1. Lehrer, R. and T. Ganz. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 11, 23 (1999).
2. Diamond, G. et al. Curr. Pharm. Des. 15, 2377 (2009).
3. Ganz, T. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 3, 710 (2003).
4. Zanetti, M. J. Leukoc. Biol. 75, 39 (2004).
5. Chromek, M. et al. Nature Medicine 12, 636 (2006).
6. Zanetti, M. et al. FEBS Lett. 374, 1 (1995).
7. Sorensen, OE. et al. Blood 97, 3951 (2001).
8. Neville, F. et al. Biophys. J. 90, 1275 (2006)
9. Oren, Z., et al. Biochem. J. 341, 501(1999).
10. Gordon, YJ. et al. Curr. Eye Res. 30, 385 (2005).
11. Valore, E. et al. J. Clin. Invest. 97, 1624 (1996);
12. Belvin, CL. et al. Gut 45, 911 (1999).
13. Xiao, Y. et al. BMC Genomics 5, 56 (2004);
About AnaSpec
AnaSpec is a leading provider of integrated proteomics solutions to the world’s largest biotech, pharmaceutical, and academic research institutions. With a vision for innovation through synergy, AnaSpec focuses on three core technologies: peptides, detection reagents, and antibodies.
AnaSpec recently joined forces with Eurogentec to provide an even broader spectrum of products and services to serve the worldwide life science community.
For more information visit www.anaspec.com
About Eurogentec
Eurogentec is a leading global supplier of innovative reagents, kits, specialty products and custom services to scientists in the life science, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and diagnostic markets. Eurogentec provides a wide range of expertize in small- and large-scale DNA, RNA, PCR and qPCR kits, peptide synthesis and antibody supply for research applications. Our ISO13485:2003-certified manufacturing facilities in Belgium provides a wide range of high value oligonucleotide-based components for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Eurogentec’s Belgium manufacturing facility is complemented by additional production facilities in North America and Japan. Eurogentec is also an experienced Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) for Biopharmaceuticals, operating a full-service, state-of-the-art GMP facility in Belgium.
Eurogentec is a privately held company headquartered in Liège, Belgium, with subsidiaries in North America, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland and has additional production facilities in North America, Japan and Singapore. Eurogentec employs 400+ people globally.
For more information visit www.eurogentec.com
