[HTML][HTML] Processing of seminal plasma hCAP-18 to ALL-38 by gastricsin: a novel mechanism of generating antimicrobial peptides in vagina

OE Sørensen, L Gram, AH Johnsen… - Journal of Biological …, 2003 - ASBMB
The human cathelicidin, hCAP-18, is expressed both in neutrophils and in epithelial cells.
hCAP-18 is processed to the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 by proteinase 3 in neutrophils.
hCAP-18 is highly expressed in the epididymis with a subsequent high concentration in
seminal plasma where the protein is present in its unprocessed and antimicrobially inactive
form. We report here that hCAP-18 in seminal plasma is processed to generate a 38-amino
acid antimicrobial peptide ALL-38 by the prostate-derived protease gastricsin when …