Computational analysis suggests beta-defensins are processed to mature peptides by signal peptidase.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are generally produced as precursor peptides containing a signal sequence, a pro-region and the mature peptide. A computational analysis of beta-defensin precursors predicts cleavage solely by signal peptidase to release the mature peptide, with no pro-region. This supports the extensive transcriptional control of beta-defensin expression compared with other AMP genes.