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PMID: 16969721 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

The changing of the guard: Molecular diversity and rapid evolution of beta-defensins.

Molecular diversity ·Vol. 10 ·No. 4 ·2006-11-00 ·Pages 575-84

Semple CA, Gautier P, Taylor K, Dorin JR

Abstract

Defensins are small cationic peptides involved in innate immunity and are components of the first line of defence against invading pathogens. beta-defensins are a subgroup of the defensin family that display a particular cysteine spacing and pattern of intramolecular bonding. These molecules are produced mostly by epithelia lining exposed surfaces and appear to have both antimicrobial and cell signalling functions. The unusually high degree of sequence variation in the mature peptide produced by the paralogous and in some cases orthologous genes implies extensive specialisation and species specific adaptation. Here we review recent functional data that are an important addition to our knowledge of the innate immune response and novel antibiotic design. We also consider the organisation and evolution of the genomic loci harbouring these genes where radical and rapid changes in beta-defensin sequences have been shown to result from the interplay of both positive and negative selection. Consequently these genes provide some unusually clear glimpses of the processes of duplication and specialisation that have shaped the mammalian genome.

MeSH Terms
Amino Acid Sequence Animals Binding Sites Chromosomes, Mammalian Evolution, Molecular Genome Humans Immunity, Innate/genetics Mice Molecular Sequence Data Phylogeny Selection, Genetic Sequence Homology, Amino Acid Structure-Activity Relationship alpha-Defensins/genetics beta-Defensins/genetics,physiology
Chemicals
alpha-Defensins beta-Defensins
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Semple Colin A
MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, UK.
Gautier Phillipe
Taylor Karen
Dorin Julia R
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Article Info
Journal
Molecular diversity
Abbr.
Mol Divers
ISSN
1381-1991
DOI
10.1007/s11030-006-9031-7
Published
2006-11-00
Pages
575-84
Language
English
Region
Netherlands
NLM ID
9516534
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/s11030-006-9031-7 View journal details
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