Lactoferricin Explained

Symbol:	N/A
Lactoferricin
Opm Family:	203
Opm Protein:	1lfc
Milkamp:	Lactoferricin

Lactoferricin is an amphipathic, cationic peptide with anti-microbial^[1] and anti-cancer^[2] properties. It can be generated by the pepsin-mediated digestion of lactoferrin.

Lactoferricin is the most studied AMP derived from milk protein. The complete sequence of lactoferricin corresponds to lactoferrin fragment 17-41 (FKCRRWQWRM KKLGAPSITCVRRAF; LFB0084) and sequences from within this fragment are also antimicrobial. The MilkAMP database contains a total of 111 peptides (natural, synthetic and modified) comprising or derived from the complete lactoferricin. In humans, lactoferricin corresponds to lactoferrin fragment 1-47 but consists of two subunits, namely fragments 1-11 and 12-47 (LFH0009), connected by a disulfide bridge.^[3]

Human Lactoferricin and Bovine Lactoferricin are two greatly studied forms of Lactoferricin. These two forms have great sequence differences. Bovine Lactoferricin contains 25 residues, while Human Lactoferricin contains 49 residues.^[4] Also, when placed in solution Bovine Lactoferricin forms a β-pleated sheet, while Human Lactoferricin forms a coiled structure.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Wakabayashi H, Takase M, Tomita M . Lactoferricin derived from milk protein lactoferrin . Current Pharmaceutical Design . 9 . 16 . 1277–1287 . 2003 . 12769736 . 10.1007/s13594-013-0153-2 . 85279971 .
2. Eliassen LT, Berge G, Sveinbjørnsson B, Svendsen JS, Vorland LH, Rekdal Ø . Evidence for a direct antitumor mechanism of action of bovine lactoferricin . Anticancer Research . 22 . 5 . 2703–2710 . 2002 . 12529985 .
3. Bruni N, Capucchio MT, Biasibetti E, Pessione E, Cirrincione S, Giraudo L, Corona A, Dosio F . 6 . Antimicrobial Activity of Lactoferrin-Related Peptides and Applications in Human and Veterinary Medicine . Molecules . 21 . 6 . 752 . June 2016 . 27294909 . 6273662 . 10.3390/molecules21060752 . free .
4. Gifford JL, Hunter HN, Vogel HJ . Lactoferricin: a lactoferrin-derived peptide with antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor and immunological properties . Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences . 62 . 22 . 2588–2598 . November 2005 . 16261252 . 10.1007/s00018-005-5373-z . 11139180 .
5. Hunter HN, Demcoe AR, Jenssen H, Gutteberg TJ, Vogel HJ . Human lactoferricin is partially folded in aqueous solution and is better stabilized in a membrane mimetic solvent . Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy . 49 . 8 . 3387–3395 . August 2005 . 16048952 . 1196233 . 10.1128/AAC.49.8.3387-3395.2005 .