Defensin Alpha 2 (DEFa2)

Defcr2; Defensin-Related Cryptdin-2; Cryptdin-1

Defensin Alpha 2 (DEFa2)
DEFa2 belongs to the alpha-defensin family, Has broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. Has antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacterium L.monocytogenes EGD and the Gram-negative bacteria E.coli ML-35p and avirulent S.typhimurium 7953, but not against the mouse-virulent S.typhimurium 14028S.
DEFA1 and DEFA3 differ only by the first amino acid of the mature peptides and DEFA2 lacks this residue. Given that no gene for DEFA2 has been discovered, it is thought that DEFA2 is a proteolytic product of one or both of DEFA1 and DEFA3. DEFA1 and DEFA2 are active against Candida albicans and are chemotactic for T-cells whereas DEFA3 is not. DEFA1 and DEFA2 have recently been observed to be more potent than DEFA3 against the Gram negative bacteria Enterobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli as well as the Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus.

Organism species: Homo sapiens (Human)

Organism species: Mus musculus (Mouse)

Organism species: Equus caballus; Equine (Horse)