Purification, cDNA cloning and modification of a defensin from the coconut rhinoceros beetle, <i>Oryctes rhinoceros</i>

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<jats:p>A novel member of the insect defensins, a family of antibacterial peptides, was purified from larvae of the coconut rhinoceros beetle, <jats:italic>Oryctes rhinoceros</jats:italic>, immunized with <jats:italic>Escherichia coli</jats:italic>. A full‐size cDNA was cloned by combining reverse‐transcription PCR (RT‐PCR), and 5′‐ and 3′‐rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Analysis of the <jats:italic>O. rhinoceros</jats:italic> defensin gene expression showed it to be expressed in the fat body and hemocyte, midgut and Malpighian tubules. <jats:italic>O. rhinoceros</jats:italic> defensin showed strong antibacterial activity against <jats:italic>Staphylococcus aureus</jats:italic>. A 9‐mer peptide amidated at its C‐terminus, AHCLAICRK‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> (Ala22–Lys30‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>), was synthesized based on the deduced amino‐acid sequence, assumed to be an active site sequence by analogy with the sequence of a defensin isolated from larvae of the beetle <jats:italic>Allomyrina dichotoma</jats:italic>. This peptide showed antibacterial activity against <jats:italic>S. aureus</jats:italic>, methicillin‐resistant <jats:italic>S. aureus</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>E. coli</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</jats:italic>. We further modified this oligopeptide and synthesized five 9‐mer peptides, ALRLAIRKR‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, ALLLAIRKR‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, AWLLAIRKR‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, ALYLAIRKR‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> and ALWLAIRKR‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>. These oligopeptides showed strong antibacterial activity against Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. The antibacterial effect of Ala22–Lys30‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> analogues was due to its interaction with bacterial membranes, judging from the leakage of liposome‐entrapped glucose. These Ala22–Lys30‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> analogues did not show haemolytic activity and did not inhibit the growth of murine fibroblast cells or macrophages, except for AWLLAIRKR‐NH<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>.</jats:p>

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