Defensin Alpha 6, Paneth Cell Specific (DEFa6)

DEF6; Defensin-6

SPN	S649
HGNC	2765
PubMed	20979654
UniProt	Q01524
Wiki	DEFA6

Defensins are a family of microbicidal and cytotoxic peptides thought to be involved in host defense. They are abundant in the granules of neutrophils and also found in the epithelia of mucosal surfaces such as those of the intestine, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and vagina. Members of the defensin family are highly similar in protein sequence and distinguished by a conserved cysteine motif. Several alpha defensin genes appear to be clustered on chromosome 8.

Defensin Alpha 6 is highly expressed in the secretory granules of Paneth cells of the small intestine, and likely plays a role in host defense of human bowel.Paneth cells of the small intestine.Has very low antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. May protect cells against infection with HIV-1.

Reference

"Defensin-6 mRNA in human Paneth cells: implications for antimicrobial peptides in host defense of the human bowel."
FEBS Lett. 315:187-192(1993) [PubMed] [Europe PMC] [Abstract]

"Human enteric defensins. Gene structure and developmental expression."
J. Biol. Chem. 271:4038-4045(1996) [PubMed] [Europe PMC] [Abstract]

"DNA sequence and analysis of human chromosome 8."
Nature 439:331-335(2006) [PubMed] [Europe PMC] [Abstract]

"The status, quality, and expansion of the NIH full-length cDNA project: the Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC)."
Genome Res. 14:2121-2127(2004) [PubMed] [Europe PMC] [Abstract]

"Antibacterial activity and specificity of the six human alpha-defensins."
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49:269-275(2005) [PubMed] [Europe PMC] [Abstract]

"Crystal structures of human alpha-defensins HNP4, HD5, and HD6."
Protein Sci. 15:2749-2760(2006) [PubMed] [Europe PMC] [Abstract]