Our previous study demonstrated that Coprisin, a peptide from Copris tripartitus infected with bacterial pathogens, has an antibacterial activity. We assessed in this study whether Coprisin caused cellular toxicity in various mammalian cell lines. Coprisin selectively caused a marked drop of cell viability in Jurkat T cells, U937 cells and AML-2 cells belonging to the human leukemia cells but not in Caki cells and Hela cells. Fragmentation of DNA, a maker of apoptosis, was also confirmed in theleukemia cell lines but not in other cells. The Coprisin-induced apoptosis in leukemia cells was mediated by AIF (apoptosis inducing factor), a caspase -independent pathway.

• Jae-Sam, Hwang(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Bo Ram Kang(Department of Life Science, College of Natural Science, Daejin University)
• Ho Kim(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Eun-Young Yun(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Sung-Hee Nam(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Seong-Ryul Kim(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• In-Woo Kim(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Mi-Young Ahn(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Jong Soo Chang(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)