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FLASH GENE
Symbol DEFA1 contributors: mct - updated : 30-05-2011
HGNC name defensin, alpha 1
HGNC id 2761
RNA
TRANSCRIPTS type messenger
identificationnb exonstypebpproduct
ProteinkDaAAspecific expressionYearPubmed
3 - 514 10 94 - 1997 9268634
EXPRESSION
Type
constitutive of
   expressed in (based on citations)
organ(s)
tissue
SystemTissueTissue level 1Tissue level 2LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
Epithelialabsorptive excretorydigestive epithelium  
Epithelialbarrier/lininguroepithelium  
Epithelialsecretoryglandularexocrine 
cells
SystemCellPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
Blood/Hematopoieticneutrophil
cell lineage
cell lines
fluid/secretion
at STAGE
PROTEIN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
STRUCTURE
motifs/domains
  • cysteine-arginine rich antimicrobial peptide with six disulfide-linked cysteines
  • leader sequence of 18AA
  • HOMOLOGY
    interspecies homolog to murine Defer
    Homologene
    FAMILY
  • alpha-defensin family
  • CATEGORY immunity/defense
    SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION     intracellular
    intracellular,cytoplasm,cytosolic,vesicle
    basic FUNCTION
  • involved in oxygen independent phagocytosis of Gram+, Gram- bacteria, many fungi, some viruses, in phagocyte-mediated host defense with ERCC6 to coordinate repair and RNA POL2 proteolysis in response to DNA damage
  • contributing to the anti-HIV1 activity of CD8 antiviral factor
  • can potentially suppress hepatic glucose production through an intracellular mechanism distinct from the classical insulin signaling pathway
  • its activation requires proteolytic excision of its anionic N-terminal inhibitory pro peptide (pro peptide of proDEFA1 also interacts specifically with and inhibits the antimicrobial activity of DEFA1 inter-molecularly)
  • DEFA1 and DEFB1 promoted the up-regulation of CD91 on the dendritic cells surface
  • mediates host immune responses to tumors through the recruitment and subsequent activation of immature dendritic cells
  • contribute to innate immunity through diverse actions, including microbial killing
  • with DEFB1, inactivated both X4 and R5 HIV-1
  • induce interleukin IL8 in airway epithelial cells
  • play different roles in the pathogenesis ofidiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), cystic fibrosis (CF), and diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), according to the location in the lung where the alpha-defensins are mainly produced
  • CELLULAR PROCESS
    PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS
    PATHWAY
    metabolism
    signaling
    a component
    INTERACTION
    DNA
    RNA
    small molecule
    protein
  • ERCC6
  • cell & other
  • binds to the cell wall precursor lipid II and reduction of lipid II levels in the bacterial membrane significantly reduces bacterial killing
  • REGULATION
    ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
    corresponding disease(s)
    Other morbid association(s)
    TypeGene ModificationChromosome rearrangementProtein expressionProtein Function
    tumoral     --low  
    might protect pleomorphic adenomas from malignant transformation into adenocarcinomas
    Susceptibility
    Variant & Polymorphism
    Candidate gene
    Marker
    Therapy target
    SystemTypeDisorderPubmed
    cancer  
    promising potential in cancer therapy
    ANIMAL & CELL MODELS