Isolation and characterization of low molecular weight antimicrobial proteins from blue fox leukocytes (<em>Alopex lagopus</em>)

Elena Bogomolova; Mikhail Berlov; Yaroslav Dubrovsky; Ekaterina Korableva; Vladimir Kokryakov

Authors

Elena Bogomolova Saint Petersburg State University, 7–9, Universitetskaya nab., Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4047-4086
Mikhail Berlov Saint Petersburg State University, 7–9, Universitetskaya nab., Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation; Institute of Experimental Medicine of the North West Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Saint Petersburg, 197376, Russian Federation https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5191-0467
Yaroslav Dubrovsky Institute of Analytical Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
Ekaterina Korableva Saint Petersburg State University, 7–9, Universitetskaya nab., Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
Vladimir Kokryakov Institute of Experimental Medicine of the North West Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Saint Petersburg, 197376, Russian Federation; Saint Petersburg State University, 7–9, Universitetskaya nab., Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation

Abstract

The aim of the research is to isolate and characterize low molecular weight antimicrobial proteins from acetic acid extracts from blue fox leukocytes. The research resulted in lysozyme with molecular mass 14634 Da having been isolated for the first time. Some functional characteristics of this protein were defined. pH optimum of enzymatic activity is 5,8, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is 6 μg/ml. Lysozyme was inactive against gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli up to 2 mg/ml. Unknown protein with molecular weight 9035 Da presumably belonging to NK-lysins was isolated. It is characterized by high positive charge, the presence of three disulfide bonds and the lack of carbohydrate component. MIC against E. coli is 1,7 μg/ml, and MIC against L. monocytogenes is 2,4 μg/ml.