Biology:Azurocidin 1

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Short description: Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens


A representation of the 3D structure of the protein myoglobin showing turquoise α-helices.
Generic protein structure example

Azurocidin also known as cationic antimicrobial protein CAP37 or heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AZU1 gene.[1][2]

Function

Azurophil granules, specialized lysosomes of the neutrophil, contain at least 10 proteins implicated in the killing of microorganisms. The protein encoded by this gene is an azurophil granule antimicrobial protein, with monocyte chemotactic and antibacterial activity. It is also an important multifunctional inflammatory mediator.[3] The genes encoding this protein, neutrophil elastase 2, and proteinase 3 are in a cluster located at chromosome 19pter. All 3 genes are expressed coordinately and their protein products are packaged together into azurophil granules during neutrophil differentiation.[2]

Structure

Comparison of Azurocidin 1 structure (pseudoprotease) to Chymotrypsin (functional protease) of same superfamily

This encoded protein is a member of the PA clan of proteases but it is not a serine proteinase, because the active site serine and histidine residues are replaced, making it a pseudoenzyme.[4]

Clinical significance

In patients with fever, high plasma levels of HBP indicates that the patient is at high risk of developing sepsis with circulatory collapse.[5]

References

  1. "Cloning of the cDNA for the serine protease homolog CAP37/azurocidin, a microbicidal and chemotactic protein from human granulocytes". J Immunol 147 (9): 3210–4. Nov 1991. PMID 1919011. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Entrez Gene: AZU1 azurocidin 1 (cationic antimicrobial protein 37)". https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=566. 
  3. Soehnlein, Oliver; Lindbom, Lennart (2009). "Neutrophil-derived azurocidin alarms the immune system" (in en). Journal of Leukocyte Biology 85 (3): 344–351. doi:10.1189/jlb.0808495. ISSN 1938-3673. PMID 18955543. 
  4. Iversen, L. F.; Kastrup, J. S.; Bjørn, S. E.; Rasmussen, P. B.; Wiberg, F. C.; Flodgaard, H. J.; Larsen, I. K. (1997). "Structure of HBP, a multifunctional protein with a serine proteinase fold". Nature Structural Biology 4 (4): 265–268. doi:10.1038/nsb0497-265. ISSN 1072-8368. PMID 9095193. 
  5. "Heparin-binding protein: an early marker of circulatory failure in sepsis". Clin. Infect. Dis. 49 (7): 1044–50. October 2009. doi:10.1086/605563. PMID 19725785. 

External links

Further reading