Work

Insect immunity. Characterization of a Drosophila cDNA encoding a novel member of the diptericin family of immune peptides.

Year: 1990

Type: article

Abstract: Drosophila shows an immune response when challenged by injection of low doses of bacteria. To date, the molecules involved in this immune reaction have remained elusive, with the exception of cecropins (4-kDa antibacterial peptides initially isolated from the moth Hyalophora cecropia) for which three closely related genes have been characterized recently. We report the molecular cloning and sequencing of a cDNA from a library of immune Drosophila which encodes a novel member of the family of diptericins (9-kDa antibacterial peptides initially isolated from the fly Phormia terranovae). Transcripts for the Drosophila diptericin are detected 2 h after injection of bacteria. They are apparently derived from a single gene mapping at position 56 A on the right arm of the second chromosome. We discuss the existence of a distant relationship between the diptericins and two other groups of anti-bacterial insect proteins, the attacins, and the sarcotoxins II.

Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry

DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(18)45732-8

Authors: C Wicker, J M Reichhart, D Hoffmann, D Hultmark, C Samakovlis, J A Hoffmann

Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Stockholm University, Université de Strasbourg

Language: English

Topic: Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,430

Funder: Vetenskapsrådet