Molecular characterization of cDNA encoding B. taurus cathelicidin-7 like antibiotic peptide from bone marrow cells of Bubalus bubalis

Abstract

Cathelicidins represent a diverse family of endogenous cationic antibiotic peptide present in all mammalian species. In the present study, a novel cathelicidin cDNA was identified and characterized from bone marrow cells of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using RT-PCR based approach. The cDNA encodes a propeptide of 1.18 kDa with net positive charge at neutral pH. The precursor peptide possesses a signal peptide of 29 amino acids and a biologically active peptide of 34 residues. Comparison of sequences indicates only 66.1 and 64.1% identity at nucleotides and amino acids level respectively, with the already reported cathelicidin congener from the same species. However, high degree of similarity (92.8% nucleotides and 81.9% amino acids) was noticed with cathelicidin 7 sequence of Bos taurus suggesting interspecies conservation of cathelicidin peptides rather than intra-species within bovidae family. Phylogenetic trees analyses also support these data. Our findings, further justify the cloned cDNA as a unique cathelicidin member of B. bubalis, and may reasonably considered to be another example of structural diversity exhibited by cathelicidin-derived peptides as reported from other mammals.

• Antimicrobial
• buffalo
• cathelicidin
• cationic protein
• cDNA
• cloning

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Director, IVRI, for providing the necessary facilities for conducting the work. Thanks are also due to ICAR, New Delhi for providing financial assistance.