Expression of Biologically Active Insect-Derived Antibacterial Peptide, Defensin, in Yeast

효모에서 활성형의 곤충유래 항균펩티드 defensin의 발현

As a biological model system for the production of an active antibacterial peptide, we have attempted the expression and secretion of insect defensin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nucleotide sequences encoding mature defensin composed of 40 amino acids were fused in frame with promoter and signal sequence of Saccharomyces diastaticus glucoamylase, and mating factor $\alpha$ l[MF $\alpha$1] prosequence. The host strain, S. cerevisiae 2805 was transformed with the resulting plasmid, pSMFll The secretion of functional defensin was confirmed by growth inhibition zone assay using Micrococcus luteus as a test organism. Insect defensin was secreted to the culture supernatant in biologically active form by glucoamylase signal sequence and mating factor $\alpha$1 prosequence. Most of antibacterial activity was detected in the culture supernatant. Defensin was also active against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes.

효모 glucoamylase의 promoter와 분비신호서열 그리고 MF$\alpha$1의 prosequence를 이용하여 곤충 defensin을 S. cerevisiae 2805에서 항균활성을 보유한 형태로 발현 및 분비하는데 성공하였다. 발현된 defensin의 대부분이 세포 외로 분비되어 거의 모든 항균활성이 배양 상등액에 존재하였다. 이것은 S. cerevisiae에서 발현된 defensin이 glucoamylase의 분비신호서열과 MF$\alpha$1의 prosequenre에 의해 효율적으로 processing되어 분비됨을 시사한다. Defensin의 다른 미생물에 대한 항균활성을 조사한 결과 병원균인 St. aureus와 L. monocytogenes에 대해서도 항균활성이 존재하였다.