DEFA6 explained

Defensin, alpha 6 (DEFA6) also known as human alpha defensin 6 (HD6) is a human protein that is encoded by the DEFA6 gene.^[1] DEFA6 is expressed in the Paneth cells of the ileum.^[2]

Function

The alpha defensins are a family of microbicidal and cytotoxic peptides that defend the host against bacteria and viruses. HD6 has poor antibacterial potency.^[3] However, HD6 affords protection against invasion by enteric bacterial pathogens by self-assembly to form fibrils and nanonets that surround and entangle bacteria.^[4]

Several alpha defensin genes, including DEFA6, are clustered on chromosome 8.^[5]

Further reading

• Szyk A, Wu Z, Tucker K, Yang D, Lu W, Lubkowski J . Crystal structures of human alpha-defensins HNP4, HD5, and HD6 . Protein Science . 15 . 12 . 2749–60 . December 2006 . 17088326 . 2242434 . 10.1110/ps.062336606 .
• Wu Z, Ericksen B, Tucker K, Lubkowski J, Lu W . Synthesis and characterization of human alpha-defensins 4-6 . The Journal of Peptide Research . 64 . 3 . 118–25 . September 2004 . 15317502 . 10.1111/j.1399-3011.2004.00179.x .
• Mallow EB, Harris A, Salzman N, Russell JP, DeBerardinis RJ, Ruchelli E, Bevins CL . Human enteric defensins. Gene structure and developmental expression . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 271 . 8 . 4038–45 . February 1996 . 8626737 . 10.1074/jbc.271.8.4038 . free .
• Bevins CL, Jones DE, Dutra A, Schaffzin J, Muenke M . Human enteric defensin genes: chromosomal map position and a model for possible evolutionary relationships . Genomics . 31 . 1 . 95–106 . January 1996 . 8808285 . 10.1006/geno.1996.0014 .
• Eisenhauer PB, Harwig SS, Lehrer RI . Cryptdins: antimicrobial defensins of the murine small intestine . Infection and Immunity . 60 . 9 . 3556–65 . September 1992 . 1500163 . 257361 . 10.1128/IAI.60.9.3556-3565.1992 .
• Huttner KM, Selsted ME, Ouellette AJ . Structure and diversity of the murine cryptdin gene family . Genomics . 19 . 3 . 448–53 . February 1994 . 8188287 . 10.1006/geno.1994.1093 .

External links

• PDBe-KB provides an overview of all the structure information available in the PDB for Human Defensin-6

Notes and References

1. Jones DE, Bevins CL . Defensin-6 mRNA in human Paneth cells: implications for antimicrobial peptides in host defense of the human bowel . FEBS Letters . 315 . 2 . 187–92 . January 1993 . 8417977 . 10.1016/0014-5793(93)81160-2 . 45099115 . free .
2. Zhao C, Wang I, Lehrer RI . Widespread expression of beta-defensin hBD-1 in human secretory glands and epithelial cells . FEBS Letters . 396 . 2–3 . 319–22 . November 1996 . 8915011 . 10.1016/0014-5793(96)01123-4 . 22367037 . free .
3. Ericksen B, Wu Z, Lu W, Lehrer RI . Antibacterial activity and specificity of the six human -defensins . Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy . 49 . 1 . 269–75 . January 2005 . 15616305 . 538877 . 10.1128/AAC.49.1.269-275.2005 .
4. Chu H, Pazgier M, Jung G, Nuccio SP, Castillo PA, de Jong MF, Winter MG, Winter SE, Wehkamp J, Shen B, Salzman NH, Underwood MA, Tsolis RM, Young GM, Lu W, Lehrer RI, Bäumler AJ, Bevins CL . 6 . Human α-defensin 6 promotes mucosal innate immunity through self-assembled peptide nanonets . Science . 337 . 6093 . 477–81 . July 2012 . 22722251 . 4332406 . 10.1126/science.1218831 . 2012Sci...337..477C .
5. Web site: Entrez Gene: DEFA6 defensin, alpha 6, Paneth cell-specific (Homo sapiens) .