Two distinct pathways can control expression of the gene encoding the Drosophila antimicrobial peptide metchnikowin

Correlation of Differential Expression of Silkworm Antimicrobial Peptide Genes with Different Amounts of Rel Family Proteins and Their Gene Transcriptional Activity

“…[11][12][13][14] The expression of AMP genes Metchnikowin and Defensin is controlled by both the Toll and the IMD pathway. 15,16) Recently, lysine-containing peptidoglycans (Lys-type PGNs), a cell wall component of many Gram-positive bacteria, have been shown to elicit the Toll pathway through the PGN recognition protein PGRP-SA, and through the Gram-negative binding protein GNBP-1. 17,18) In contrast, meso-diaminopimelic acid-containing PGNs (DAP-type PGNs) from Gram-negative bacteria and a subclass of Gram-positive bacteria, which includes Bacillus species, have been reported to stimulate the IMD pathway through PGN recognition proteins, PGRP-LC and PGRP-LE.…”

Nuclear factor-kappa B pathways in Drosophila

“…In response to bacterial challenge, Dif and Dorsal undergo rapid nuclear translocation in fat body cells to activate their own transcription as well as that of the antimicrobial peptide genes. Drosomycin, Mechnikowin and Cecropin are expressed in response to fungal infections, and Defensin and Mechnikovin in response to Gram-positive bacteria (Lemaitre et al, 1995;Levashina et al, 1995;Levashina et al, 1998;Manfruelli et al, 1999;Imler and Bulet, 2005). In most cases, Dif is likely to require coactivators, such as TRAP80, to fully activate these immune response genes .…”

Control of development and immunity by Rel transcription factors in Drosophila

“…These peptides have a broad spectrum of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Metchnikowin and Cecropins have both anti-bacterial and antifungal properties, whereas Drosomycin acts speci®cally against fungi Levashina et al, 1998; for reviews see Bulet et al, 1999;EngstroÈ m, 1999;Homann et al, 1999). The induction of anti-microbial peptides is not completely nonspeci®c.…”

“…With the availability of more regulatory mutants (e.g. 18-wheeler, Dif, Relish, necrotic) and additional anti-microbial targets (metchnikowin; Levashina et al, 1998), it is now possible to extend and re®ne this picture (Figure 7). Indeed, Eldon and colleagues (Williams et al, 1997) found that the induction of attacin is almost completely abolished in 18-wheeler mutants, whereas induction of cecropin and diptericin is aected to a lesser degree.…”