Membrane disruptive antimicrobial potential of NK-lysin from yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)

NK-lysins, a type of broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide (AMP), act as an essential effector of innate defense against microbial attack in higher vertebrates and so in fish. The present study delineates the structural and functional characterization of NK-lysin from yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidrac) (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). PfNK-lysin encodes a 153-residue peptide, which displays the hallmark features of other known NK-lysins with the ordered array of six well-conserved cysteine residues and five-exon/four-intron structure. It was found to be ubiquitous in tissues, being detected most abundantly in gill and head kidney. In vivo exposure to stimuli (LPS, PolyI:C, and Edwardsiella ictaluri) induced PfNK-lysin expression in head kidney and spleen. Synthetic PfNK-lysin-derived peptide exhibited in vitro bactericidal potency against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with the highest inhibitory effect on pathogen Edwardsiella ictaluri. Fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy further confirmed its capacity to cause damage to the bacterial plasma membrane. Taken together, these data suggest that PfNK-lysin might participate in antimicrobial defense of yellow catfish by membrane-disruptive action. •A NK-lysin homologue (PfNK-lysin) was identified and characterized from yellow catfish.•PfNK-lysin could be induced by LPS, PolyI:C, and Edwardsiella ictaluri.•PfNK-lysin derived peptide showed bactericidal potency against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.•PfNK-lysin exerted its antibacterial effect through damage of bacterial membranes.