Gene expression, antiparasitic activity, and functional evolution of the drosomycin family

Tian, Caihuan; Gao, Bin; Rodrı́guez, Marı́a del Carmen; Lanz‐Mendoza, Humberto; Ma, Bo; Zhu, Shunyi

doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2008.06.025

Cited by 68 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Rearrangement of disulphide bridges in psalmopeotoxins affected activity [36]. Tian et al [37] proposed that the fruit fly-derived drosomycins possessed, in comparison with defensins, a 'parasite-specific' loop. Mason et al [38] suggested that the parasite-selectivity of histidine-rich peptides may be due to differences between normal host membranes and membranes of infected erythrocytes (decreased cholesterol, increased phosphatidylserine exposure, increased fluidity and disorder, increased content of unsaturated acyl chains) and/or parasites (very low cholesterol).…”

Section: Peptides With Antimalarial Activity Cationic 'Host-defence' mentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimalarial Peptides: The Long and the Short of It

Bell

2011

CPD

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Section: Peptides With Antimalarial Activity Cationic 'Host-defence' mentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimalarial Peptides: The Long and the Short of It

Bell

2011

CPD

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“…Drosomycin is an anti-fungal peptide isolated from immune challenged D. melanogaster (Fehlbaum et al, 1994; Tian et al, 2008). Expression of drosomycin is synergistically regulated by the Toll and IMD pathways (Tanji et al, 2007; Tanji et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manduca sexta moricin promoter elements can increase promoter activities of Drosophila melanogaster antimicrobial peptide genes

Rao

2011

Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Insects produce a variety of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Induction of insect AMP genes is regulated by the Toll and IMD (immune deficiency) pathways via NF-κB and GATA factors. Little is known about species-specific regulation of AMP genes. In this report, we showed that activities of most Manduca sexta and Drosophila melanogaster AMP gene promoters were regulated in a species-specific manner in Drosophila (Dipteran) S2 cells and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidopteran) Sf9 cells. A κB-GATA element (22bp) from M. sexta moricin (MsMoricin) promoter could significantly increase activities of Drosophila AMP gene promoters in S2 cells, and an MsMoricin promoter activating element (MPAE) (140bp) could increase activity of drosomycin promoter specifically in Sf9 cells. However, κB and GATA factors alone were not sufficient for MsMoricin gene activation, suggesting that other co-regulators may be required to fully activate AMP genes. Our results suggest that induction of insect AMP genes may require a transcription complex composed of common nuclear factors (such as NF-κB and GATA factors) and species-related co-regulators, and it is the co-regulators that may confer species-specific regulation of AMP genes. In addition, we showed that activity of Drosophila drosomycin promoter could be activated cooperatively by the inserted exogenous κB-GATA element and the endogenous κB element. These findings revealed an approach of engineering AMP genes with enhanced activities, which may lead to broad applications.

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“…The plate was incubated in dark at 28°C for 24 h. Similar procedures were also used in antibacterial assays, in which MEA was replaced by Luria Broth medium and the incubation temperature was 37°C instead of 28°C. C L of peptides was determined by the inhibition-zone assays and IC 50 was defined as peptide concentration leading to 50% of fungal growth inhibition 48 . The sources of the microorganisms used in this assay are listed in Supplementary Table 3.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%