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This Sandbox is Reserved from 06/12/2018, through 30/06/2019 for use in the course "Structural Biology" taught by Bruno Kieffer at the University of Strasbourg, ESBS. This reservation includes Sandbox Reserved 1480 through Sandbox Reserved 1543.

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IntroductionIntroduction

Defensins (DEF) are a family of proteins which are involved in host defense in the epithelia of mucosal surfaces such as those of the intestin, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and vagina. They are antimicrobial and cytotoxic. All the proteins of the family are distinguished by a cystein motif and are encoded on the chromozome 8.
There are many defensins but in this article we will focus on the defensin-α-1. It is a polypeptide which is found in the microbicidal granules of neutrophils. It is synthesized in the neutrophils, which plays a role in the defense process. defensin-α-1 plays a particular role in phagocite-mediated host defense.

<StructureSection load='2pm4' size='450' side='right'caption='Crystal Structure of Defensin, (PDB code 2pm4) '>

Biological roleBiological role

The presence of an unknown microbial cell active the transcription of the defensin-α-1 gene in the human neutrophil. When the RNAm is translated defensins-α-1 are not active. They became active in the Golgi apparatus, in which they are biologically cleaved. Then they are stored in the azurophil granule lumen. After the exocytosis, two defensins-α-1 create a dimere, which will attack the membran of the microbial cell, by the formation of channel. These channels destabilize the membrane, which causes the destruction of the unknown microbial cell. This mecanism is summed up in the following picture.

General pathway of defensins-α-1.

StructureStructure

Monomere structureMonomere structure

Defensin-α-1 are cationic antimicrobial peptides that are synthesized in vivo as inactive precursors.
Activation requires proteolytic excision of their anionic N-terminal inhibitory pro-peptide. The pro-peptide also specifically interacts with and inhibits the antimicrobial activity of the defensin-α-1 intermolecularly.
The active mature defensin-α-1 peptides consists of 29–35 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 3–5 kDa.
The primary structure shows highly conserved residues, which are indispensable for the structural stability of the peptides. Among them are six invariant cysteine residues, necessary for the typical defensin-α-1 intramolecular disulphide-bond connectivity :

Defensin-Alpha-1 cysteine connectivities.

There are two charged amino acid residues, , forming a conserved salt bridge, and , which constitutes a signature structural motif which is essential for correct folding.

Each defensin monomer consists of three strands of antiparallel β-sheet incorporating 60% of the residues. Two β-turns and three disulfide bonds add further restrictions to the conformational freedom of the monomer.

Dimere structureDimere structure

The dimere is formed by joining identical β-strands of the two monomers together to create a symmetrical six-stranded β-sheet. This extended β-sheet twists and curls to form a basket-shaped structure that has a small solvent-accessible channel passing through it. The base of the basket is hydrophobic while the top, which contains the N- and C-terminal domains of the two defensin monomers, is polar. This dimer-of-dimers may be an essential feature of defensins’interaction with membranes.

Binding with the cell membraneBinding with the cell membrane

The interaction of defensin-α-1 with cell membranes involves single dimer binding electrostatically to the cell surface. In fact, the hydrophobic basket bottom of the defensin-α-1 dimer is inserted into the the hydrocarbon layer of one lipid monolayer while the polar group of the basket top and the maintain contact with the headgroup and aqueaus phase. Two dimers creat a channel. The dimers can work together and create big channels like the following picture. The are in the basket bottom.

Creation of big channels.. ]]

ExampleExample

DEF are known to play a role in the in the initiation of innate immune responses to some microbial pathogens. They are antimicrobial peptides of innate immunity functioning by non-specific binding to anionic phospholipids in bacterial membranes. For example defensins-α-1 have a role against the bacteria Trypanosoma cruzi.
Trypanosoma cruzy or Cruzy debilitats Chagas disease, which affects millions of people and products significant morbidity and mortality. The defensins-α-1 are secreted by the HCT116 cells (which are Paneth cells), when they are infected by Cruzy. They reduce the infection by making damage on the flagella structure. This damage inhibits parasite motility and reduces cellular infection. This reaction is introduced in the following drawing.

Defensins-α-1 pathway.

ConclusionConclusion

We focused on human defensin-α-1. It exists six different defensin-α. The first and the third differ only from one aminoacide. In addition of alpha defensins, there also exist Beta defensins which also play a role in defense. Defensins are extremely conserved so they are present by a great number of organisms. Researches in biotechnologies application with defensins are still performed in the fields of medecin and antibiotics.

Proteopedia page contributors and editorsProteopedia page contributors and editors

Julie Signoret and Stéphanie Gross - ChemBioTech