Identification of antimicrobial peptides in Lycopersicon esculentum genome

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute an important part of the plant immune system protecting plants from the invading pathogens. Some antimicrobial peptides are also active against human pathogenic microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant strains that makes these molecules promising candidates for the design of next-generation drugs to treat infections. Plants represent a valuable source of effective yet poorly explored antimicrobial peptides. An efficient pipeline for highthroughput in silico detection of antimicrobial peptides in Lycopersicon esculentum genome has been developed. As many as 66 putative AMPs were revealed in L. esculentum genome. The discovered AMPs belong to four AMP families: defensins, thionins, lipid-transfer proteins, and hevein-type peptides. The vast majority of newly discovered peptides have not been annotated in L. esculentum genome so far. Further functional analysis of detected AMPs will evaluate their potential as novel drug leads and biopesticides for practical application in agriculture and medicine.