Yak (Bos grunniens) stomach lysozyme: molecular cloning, expression and its antibacterial activities.

The cDNA coding for stomach lysozyme in yak was cloned. The cloned cDNA contains a 432 bp open reading frame and encodes 143 amino acids (16.24 KDa) with a signal peptide of 18 amino acids. Further analysis revealed that its amino acid sequence shares many common properties with cow milk lysozyme. Expression of this gene was also detected in mammary gland tissue by RT-PCR. Phylogenetic relationships among yak stomach lysozyme and 8 cow lysozymes indicated that the yak enzyme is more closely related to both cow milk lysozyme and the pseudogene PsiNS4 than cow stomach lysozyme. Recombinant yak lysozyme purified by Ni(2+)-column showed a molecular weight of 33.78 kDa and exhibited lytic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, providing evidence of its antibacterial activities.