Rabbit defensin (NP-1) genetic engineering of plant

Abstract

Defensin is a small, cysteine-rich, cationic peptides family with antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. Among all known defensins, neutrophil peptide-1 (NP-1), which is expressed mainly in rabbit neutrophils, has a broad resistance spectrum to pathogens such as Treponema pallidum, many Grampositive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, viruses. Besides, it has the same striking inhibition or toxic effect on some nausea and tumor cells. Due to the broad antibacterial spectrum and special mechanism of microbial inhibition, rabbit defensin has been transformed into some plants and expressed via genetic engineering. And it plays an important role in genetic engineering of anti-disease plants and plants species' improvement. This article reviewed and discussed the advantages and research progress of the rabbit defensin genetic engineering of plant in recent years, and also focuses on the existing problems and new strategies in this area.

Transfer and expression of the rabbit defensin NP-1 gene in lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

“…Rabbit defensin (NP-1) has significant inhibiting or killing effects on pathogenic microorganisms such as Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even some malignant cells (such as tumor cells and HIV), which was determined by antibacterial tests in vitro (Zhou et al, 2011). As a new broad antibacterial spectrum defensin, it possesses far-reaching implications in plant transformation.…”

“…The mechanism of rabbit defensin (NP-1) determined that it was difficult to target microorganisms to yield resistant mutations. Recently, rabbit defensin (NP-1) has been transformed into some plants and expressed via genetic engineering (such as the pollen tube pathway and Agrobacterium mediation), which plays an important role in the genetic engineering of anti-disease plants and plant species improvements (Zhou et al, 2011).…”

A New Strategy to Produce a Defensin: Stable Production of Mutated NP-1 in Nitrate Reductase-Deficient Chlorella ellipsoidea

“…It also lysed tumor cell in vitro [16], induced wound repair [17], restored the functions of the injured nerve trunk [18], and secreted histamine from mast cells at nanomolar concentrations [19]. The over-expression of NP-1 in plants enhanced resistance of transgenic higher plants against bacterial wilt, fungal attack and viral infection [20].…”