Figure 1

Alignment of 38 different α-defensin amino acid sequences. Fig. 1 represents the conserved amino acid residues and distinguishes potentially active peptides from pseudogenes. Conserved amino acid residues in the signal peptides present in all sequences were highlighted in grey. Conserved cysteine residues were highlighted in red, conserved arginine and glutamic acid residues, necessary for the intramolecular salt bridge were highlighted in blue, the conserved glycine residue, necessary for correct folding is highlighted in yellow. The previously known α-defensins DEFA1 and DEFA5L are written in red, defensin-like peptides (pseudogenes) in blue.