Abstract
Hemocytes from the invertebrate Styela clava, a solitary tunicate, contained a family of four α-helical antimicrobial peptides that were purified, sequenced and named clavanins A, B, C and D. Each clavanin contained 23 amino acid residues and was C-terminally amidated. The tunicate peptides resembled magainins in size, primary sequence and antibacterial activity. Synthetic clavanin A was prepared and displayed comparable antimicrobial activity to magainins and cecropins. The presence of α-helical antimicrobial peptides in the hemocytes of a urochordate suggests that such peptides are primeval effectors of innate immunity in the vertebrate lineage.
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