DEFA4

Defensin, alpha 4, corticostatin

PDB rendering based on 1zmm.
Available structures
PDB Ortholog search: PDBe, RCSB
Identifiers
Symbols DEFA4 ; DEF4; HNP-4; HP-4; HP4
External IDs OMIM: 601157 HomoloGene: 48059 GeneCards: DEFA4 Gene
Orthologs
Species Human Mouse
Entrez 1669 n/a
Ensembl ENSG00000164821 n/a
UniProt P12838 n/a
RefSeq (mRNA) NM_001925 n/a
RefSeq (protein) NP_001916 n/a
Location (UCSC) Chr 8:
6.94 – 6.94 Mb
n/a
PubMed search n/a

Defensin, alpha 4 (DEFA4), also known as neutrophil defensin 4 or HNP4, is a human defensin peptide that is encoded by the DEFA4 gene.[1][2] HNP4 is expressed in the granules of the neutrophil where it defends the host against bacteria[3] and viruses.[4]

Function

Defensins are a peptide family of cytotoxic microbicides involved in innate immunity.[5] Members of the defensin family are distinguished by a conserved six-cysteine motif. Several human alpha defensin genes including HNP4 are clustered on chromosome 8. DEFA4 differs from other defensin genes by an extra 83-base segment that is apparently the result of a recent duplication within the coding region. HNP4 inhibits corticotropin-stimulated corticosterone production.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Entrez Gene: DEFA4; defensin, alpha 4, corticostatin (Homo sapiens)".
  2. Wu Z, Ericksen B, Tucker K; et al. (2004). "Synthesis and characterization of human alpha-defensins 4-6.". J Pept Res. 64 (3): 118–25. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3011.2004.00179.x. PMID 15317502.
  3. Ericksen B, Wu Z, Lu W, Lehrer RI. (2005). "Antibacterial Activity and Specificity of the Six Human α-Defensins". Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 49 (1): 269–75. doi:10.1128/AAC.49.1.269-275.2005. PMC 538877. PMID 15616305.
  4. Wu Z, Cocchi F, Gentles D; et al. (3 January 2005). "Human neutrophil alpha-defensin 4 inhibits HIV-1 infection in vitro". FEBS Lett 579 (1): 162–6. doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2004.11.062. PMID 15620707.
  5. T Ganz, M E Selsted, D Szklarek; et al. (1985). "Defensins. Natural peptide antibiotics of human neutrophils". J Clin Invest 76 (4): 1427–1435. doi:10.1172/JCI112120. PMC 424093. PMID 2997278.

Further reading


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