Defensin, alpha 6 (DEFA6) also known as human alpha defensin 6 (HD6) is a human protein that is encoded by the DEFA6gene.[5][6]DEFA6 is expressed in the Paneth cells of the ileum.[7]
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.[8] However, HD6 affords protection against invasion by enteric bacterial pathogens by self-assembly to form fibrils and nanonets that surround and entangle bacteria.[9]
Several alpha defensin genes, including DEFA6, are clustered on chromosome 8.[5]
Wu Z, Ericksen B, Tucker K, Lubkowski J, Lu W (September 2004). "Synthesis and characterization of human alpha-defensins 4-6". The Journal of Peptide Research. 64 (3): 118–25. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3011.2004.00179.x. PMID15317502.
Bevins CL, Jones DE, Dutra A, Schaffzin J, Muenke M (January 1996). "Human enteric defensin genes: chromosomal map position and a model for possible evolutionary relationships". Genomics. 31 (1): 95–106. doi:10.1006/geno.1996.0014. PMID8808285.
Huttner KM, Selsted ME, Ouellette AJ (February 1994). "Structure and diversity of the murine cryptdin gene family". Genomics. 19 (3): 448–53. doi:10.1006/geno.1994.1093. PMID8188287.
External links
PDBe-KB provides an overview of all the structure information available in the PDB for Human Defensin-6