NP-4, Human Control Peptide (alpha Defensin-4)

Human alpha 4 defensins is synthesized from 97 precursor (mature peptide 64-96). A 17-aa peptide sequence near the C-terminus of human mature alpha defensin-4.\n\nDefensins are a large family of broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides, identified originally in leukocytes of rabbits and humans. Defensins, cationic/polar peptides (30-35 aa; 3-4kD), are distinguished by a conserved tri-disulfides and a largely b-sheet structure. Defensins, expressed at the cell surface, have been hypothesized to function as a biochemical barrier against microbial infection by inhibiting colonization of the epithelium by wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. In leukocytes, these peptides are stored in cytoplasmic granules and are released into phagolysosomes where they contribute to the killing of engulfed microorganisms. The genes encoding human alpha and beta-defensins are clustered in a contiguous segment of chromosome 8p23. Defensins are classified into two families designated alpha and beta based on distinctive, although similar, tri-disulfide linkages in the peptides. b-defensins are slightly larger and differ in the position and arrangement of 3 disulfides. In humans, six a-defensin (cryptidins), HD 1-6 (HD1-4 are also known as HNP1-4 for Human Neutrophil Peptides), and two b-defensins, HBD-1 and HBD-2, have been identified.\n\nAlpha-defensins are encoded by genes designated DEFA1-6, whereas human b-defensins are encoded by the DEFB1 and DEFb2 genes. HD1-4 are expressed in neutrophils, whereas HD5 and HD6 are expressed in epithelial cells of the intestinal and reproductive tract. HD1-3/HNP1-3 make up about 30% of the neutrophil's total granule protein. The HNPs are 29 to 30 amino acids long and are identical in sequence except at the N-terminal amino acid. DEFA1 and DEFA3 differ from each other only by their terminal ala and asp, respectively. DEFA2 is identical to both except that it has 29 instead of 30 amino acids.

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SPECIFICATIONS

Catalog Number

N5378

Size

50ug

Applications

ELISA, WB

Form

Supplied as a liquid in PBS, pH 7.5.

Purity

Highly purified

References

Palfree RG et al (1993) Mol. Endocrinol. 7, 199-205; Singh A et al (1988) BBRC 155, 524-529; Wilde CG et al (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 11200-11203; Gabay JE et al (1989) PNAS 86, 5610-5614; ; Wilson CL et al (1999) Science 286, 113-117; Mallow EB et al (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 4038-4045; Ganz T and Lehrer RI (1998) Current Opinion Biol. 10, 41-44;. \n

Additional Info

Specific for human to human HDEFA4 or HNP-4. No significant homology exists with other alpha-defensins. Available for antibody blocking to confirm specificity of antibodies