Identification of early genes in the Drosophila immune response by PCR-based differential display: the Attacin A gene and the evolution of attacin-like proteins

Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 1995 Apr;25(4):511-8. doi: 10.1016/0965-1748(94)00091-c.

Abstract

We are using the PCR-based differential display technique to isolate genes which are induced during the immune response in Drosophila. In this way, a cDNA clone for a member of the attacin family of antibacterial proteins was isolated. The corresponding Attacin A (Att A) gene is localized at 51A-B on the second chromosome, and it is closely linked to at least one more cross-hybridizing gene. Injection of bacteria induces a 0.8 kb transcript, with expression kinetics similar to that of cecropin. Drosophila attacin is most closely related to sarcotoxin II of Sarcophaga peregrina, but it lacks the extra domains that are unique to this protein, and the overall domain structure of the Att A gene product is identical to that of the attacins from Hyalophora cecropia.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / immunology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Immediate-Early
  • Genes, Insect*
  • Insect Hormones / genetics*
  • Insect Hormones / metabolism
  • Insect Proteins*
  • Kinetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • AttA protein, Drosophila
  • AttB protein, Drosophila
  • AttC protein, Drosophila
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Hormones
  • Insect Proteins
  • attacin antibacterial protein, insect

Associated data

  • GENBANK/Z46893