Authors: Tanji T; Ohashi-Kobayashi A; Natori S
Abstract: A galactose-specific C-type lectin has been purified from a pupal extract of Drosophila melanogaster. This lectin gene, named DL1 (Drosophila lectin 1), is part of a gene cluster with the other two galactose-specific C-type lectin genes, named DL2 (Drosophila lectin 2) and DL3 (Drosophila lectin 3). These three genes are expressed differentially in fruit fly, but show similar haemagglutinating activities. The present study characterized the biochemical and biological properties of the DL1 protein. The recombinant DL1 protein bound to Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi, but not to other Gram-negative or any other kinds of microbial strains that have been investigated. In addition, DL1 agglutinated E. coli and markedly intensified the association of a Drosophila haemocytes-derived cell line with E. coli. For in vivo genetic analysis of the lectin genes, we also established a null-mutant Drosophila. The induction of inducible antibacterial peptide genes was not impaired in the DL1 mutant, suggesting that the galactose-specific C-type lectin does not participate in the induction of antibacterial peptides, but possibly participates in the immune response via the haemocyte-mediated mechanism.
Keywords: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Base Sequence; Carbohydrates/pharmacology; Cell Line; DNA, Complementary/genetics; Drosophila Proteins/chemistry/deficiency/genetics/*immunology; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/*immunology/microbiology; Erythrocytes; Female; Galactose/metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Targeting; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Hemagglutination Tests; Hemocytes/*immunology; Larva; Lectins/chemistry/deficiency/genetics/*immunology; Lectins, C-Type/*chemistry/deficiency/genetics/*immunology; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Pupa; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Transfection|
Journal: The Biochemical journal Volume: 396 Issue: 1 Pages: 127-38 Date: Feb. 16, 2006 PMID: 16475980 |
Tanji T, Ohashi-Kobayashi A, Natori S (2006) Participation of a galactose-specific C-type lectin in Drosophila immunity. The Biochemical journal 396: 127-38.
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