Differential distribution and defence involvement of antimicrobial peptides in mussel

• Published in: Journal of cell science Vol. 113 ( Pt 15); no. 15; pp. 2759 - 2769
• Main Authors: Mitta, G, Vandenbulcke, F, Noël, T, Romestand, B, Beauvillain, J C, Salzet, M, Roch, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.08.2000
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - analysis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - metabolism; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Bivalvia - immunology; Blood Proteins - analysis; Blood Proteins - genetics; Consensus Sequence; Defensins; Gene Expression - immunology; Hemocytes - chemistry; Hemocytes - immunology; Hemocytes - ultrastructure; In Situ Hybridization; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Electron; Molecular Sequence Data; Mytilus galloprovincialis; Phagocytosis - immunology; Proteins - analysis; Proteins - genetics; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Vibrio - immunology; Vibrio Infections - immunology
• ISSN: 0021-9533; 1477-9137
• DOI: 10.1242/jcs.113.15.2759

In previous papers, we characterised 3 types of 4-kDa, cysteine-rich, cationic antimicrobial peptides: MGDs (for Mytilus galloprovincialis defensins), mytilins and myticins, which are abundant in the mussel hemocytes. In the present work, we revealed a differential distribution of the cells expressing the different genes. In addition, using confocal and electron microscopy, we confirmed that defensins and mytilins were partially located in different sub-types of circulating hemocytes although the peptides can be located in the same cell, and even in the same granule. We also demonstrated that mytilins exert their microbicidal effect within the cells through the process of phagosome-mytilin granule fusion leading to the co-location of ingested bacteria and mytilins.