Isolation and Characterization of Novel Antimicrobial Peptides from the Zebrafish, Danio rerio
EMSL Project ID
2293
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides have been isolated and characterized from a wide variety of organisms. Playing a major role in innate immune defense, antimicrobial peptides have been shown to be capable of killing a host of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. In addition, there is a growing body of evidence that antimicrobial peptides may be able modulate and effect immune responses in ways more complex than simple membrane interactions. In our project, we hope to examine the way zebrafish antimicrobial peptides regulate macrophage gene expression, specifically with regard to apoptosis and cell cycle control. Antimicrobial peptides have yet to be isolated from the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Traditional genetic approaches involving EST database mining have proven difficult due to the lack of conservation at both the amino acid and nucleotide levels. As a result, we have chosen to attempt to isolate and characterize novel antimicrobial peptides from the zebrafish via chromatography and mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial peptides have isolated in this manner from frogs and fishes. Typically, there is an initial separation by size-exclusion chromatography followed by HPLC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Based on estimations from standards, we determined that we have picomoles of material available for mass spectrometry. Through email communications with Dr. Harold Udseth and Dr. Suzana Martinovic, we have been informed that it would be possible to characterize our peptides and determine amino acid sequence by ESI-MS. Therefore, we would respectfully seek a collaborative effort with your laboratory.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2001-10-16
End Date
2003-01-28
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Related Publications
Hadjar O, GE Johnson, SM Shill, G Kibelka, K Kuhn, and J Laskin. 2010. "IonCCD for direct position-sensitive charged particle detection: from electrons and keV ions to hyperthermal biomolecular ions." PNNL-SA-74824, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.