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cDNA cloning and molecular characterization of a defensin-like antimicrobial peptide from larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe)

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Abstract

We identified new defensin-like cDNA (called Psdefensin) by searching data set of high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) expression profiling of immunized larva of white-spotted flower chafers, Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis. The length of the analyzed new defensin-like sequences were 240 base pair (bp) and encoded the deduced polypeptide of 79 amino acid residues with signal peptides (amino acids 1–20), pro-peptide region (amino acids 21–36), and mature peptide region (amino acids 37–79). The Psdefensin transcript levels were slightly up-regulated at 4 h post-infection and were highly expressed at 8 h post-infection compared to control larvae injected with sterile water. In addition, the Psdefensin did have antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli and Gram-positive bacteria, B. subtilis suggesting potentially pharmacologic agent.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea (Grant Number; NRF-2014R1A1A4A01008545), IPET (Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) (Grant Number 314086-3), and 2015 research grant from Kangwon National University (D1000112-01-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Biology, Division of Bioresource Science, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National University, Kangwon-do, Chuncheon, 200-701, Republic of Korea

    Jiae Lee, Kyeongrin Bang, Sejung Hwang & Saeyoull Cho

  2. Environmental Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea

    Saeyoull Cho

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  1. Jiae Lee
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  2. Kyeongrin Bang
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  3. Sejung Hwang
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Correspondence to Saeyoull Cho.

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Lee, J., Bang, K., Hwang, S. et al. cDNA cloning and molecular characterization of a defensin-like antimicrobial peptide from larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe). Mol Biol Rep 43, 371–379 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-016-3967-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-016-3967-1

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