Studies of multiple functions of antimicrobial peptides and their physiological roles in the host innate immune system.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24570077
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Morphology/Structure
• Research Institution: Toho University
• Principal Investigator: IWAMURO Shawichi 東邦大学, 理学部, 教授 (70221794)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KIKUYAMA Sakae 早稲田大学, 教育・総合学術院, 名誉教授 (20063638) ; KOBAYASHI Tetsuya 埼玉大学, 大学院理工学研究科, 教授 (00195794) ; HASUNUMA Itaru 東邦大学, 理学部, 講師 (40434261)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 抗菌ペプチド / 生体防御ペプチド / 両生類 / ハーダー腺 / カセリシジン / ヒストン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have cloned cDNAs encoding antimicrobial peptide (AMP) precursors from total RNA samples prepared from amphibian skin, Harderian gland, and brain and cells of the avian cell line DT40 using RT-PCR techniques. We detected chemotactic and degranulation against mastocytoma, bacterial surface substance-binding, and/or lectin-like activities as well as antimicrobial activities in the synthetic replicates of these AMPs such as bullfrog catesbeianalectin (CL) and chicken cathelicidin-B1 (chCATH-B1). We also detected the bacterial toxins-inducible chCATH-B1gene expression in DT40 cells. In addition, we showed directed antimicrobial activities and properties of Arg-rich histones (H3 and H4) and Lys-rich histone (H2B) against Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. While the Arg-rich histones disrupted the bacterial cell membrane by forming blebs, the Lys-rich histone inhibited the bacterial cell growth without morphological changes.

Free Research Field

分子生理学