CMAP27, a novel chicken cathelicidin-like antimicrobial protein

Cathelicidins, antimicrobial peptides with broad spectrum activity, have been almost exclusively found in mammals. Here, we report the cloning of a novel avian cathelicidin, chicken myeloid antimicrobial peptide 27 (CMAP27) from chicken bone marrow cells. A combined expressed sequence tag (EST) and genomic based search revealed a cathelicidin-like gene located at the terminus of chromosome 2. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 5'RACE techniques resulted in a 154 amino acid prepropeptide, homologous to chicken cathelicidin 1 (51%) and most similar to alpha-helical myeloid antibacterial peptides (MAPs; 29-33%). A putative elastase cleavage site (LVQRG/RF) suggests the production of a 27 amino acid antimicrobial peptide, predicted to adopt an alpha-helical configuration followed by a hydrophobic tail. Comparative analyses between antimicrobial peptide domains showed marked similarity between CMAP27 and MAP members of the bovidae family, but not with the alpha-helical chicken cathelicidin 1. Strongest expression of CMAP27 mRNA was found in myeloid/lymphoid tissues, testis and uropygial gland. In accordance with the phylogenetic tree analysis, these findings support the theory of a common ancestral cathelicidin gene and suggest an important role for cathelicidins in chicken innate host defense.