DCD

This antimicrobial gene encodes a secreted protein that is subsequently processed into mature peptides of distinct biological activities. The C-terminal peptide is constitutively expressed in sweat and has antibacterial and antifungal activities. The N-terminal peptide, also known as diffusible survival evasion peptide, promotes neural cell survival under conditions of severe oxidative stress. A glycosylated form of the N-terminal peptide may be associated with cachexia (muscle wasting) in cancer patients. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2014]

Full Name

Dermcidin

Function

DCD-1 displays antimicrobial activity thereby limiting skin infection by potential pathogens in the first few hours after bacterial colonization. Highly effective against E.coli, E.faecalis, S.aureus and C.albicans. Optimal pH and salt concentration resemble the conditions in sweat. Also exhibits proteolytic activity, cleaving on the C-terminal side of Arg and, to a lesser extent, Lys residues (PubMed:17448443).

Survival-promoting peptide promotes survival of neurons and displays phosphatase activity. It may bind IgG.

Biological Process

Antimicrobial humoral immune response mediated by antimicrobial peptide Source: UniProtKB
Antimicrobial humoral response Source: Reactome
Defense response to bacterium Source: UniProtKB-KW
Defense response to fungus Source: UniProtKB
Defense response to Gram-negative bacterium Source: UniProtKB
Defense response to Gram-positive bacterium Source: UniProtKB
Killing by host of symbiont cells Source: CACAO
Killing of cells of other organism Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Secreted