beta-Defensin 2: Products

Defensins are members of a family of microbicidal and cytotoxic peptides produced by neutrophils. They are classified into alpha-, beta-, and theta-defensins based on their sizes and intramolecular disulfide bond patterns. Human beta-Defensin 2 (BD-2; aa 24 - 64) also known as defensin beta 2 (DEFB-2), is a secreted, 41 amino acid residue anti-microbial protein belonging to the defensin family. Mature defensins are cationic proteins with three intramolecular disulfides and a characteristic triple-stranded beta-sheet. Human beta-Defensin 2 expression is induced by inflammatory signals in multiple tissues, including airway epithelial cells and keratinocytes. At the amino acid sequence level, human beta-Defensin 2 shares 98% and 51% homology with the proteins from rhesus monkey and rat, respectively.