malvolio, the Drosophila homologue of mouse NRAMP-1 (Bcg), is expressed in macrophages and in the nervous system and is required for normal taste behaviour.
We report the sequence, expression pattern and mutant phenotype of malvolio (mvl), the Drosophila homologue of mammalian natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (NRAMPs). In the mouse, this novel transporter is encoded by Bcg, a dominant gene that confers natural resistance to intracellular parasites. mvl was identified in a screen for mutants that affect taste behaviour. We show that loss-of-function as well as insertional mutants in mvl display defects in taste behaviour with no alterations in the physiology of the sensory neurons. Activity of the reporter enzyme beta-galactosidase, that reflects the expression pattern of mvl, is seen in mature sensory neurons and in macrophages. The conceptual translation of the mvl cDNA shows a striking similarity (65% identity) with human NRAMP with almost complete identity in a conserved consensus motif found in a number of ATP-coupled transporters. Based on its phenotype and expression pattern as well as its structural similarities to NRAMPs and a nitrate transporter in Aspergillus nidulans, we discuss a possible role for MVL in nitrite/nitrate transport and its implications.
Rodrigues
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Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, National University of Singapore.
Cheah
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PY
Ray
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Chia
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017344:Genes, Insect; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D016623:Ion Pumps; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D011679:Pupa / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D013649:Taste / Q000235:genetics*; D014199:Trehalose / Q000378:metabolism; D000099173:Natural Resistance-associated Macrophage Protein 1; D000099236:Solute Carrier Family 11, Member 2
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005632:Fructose; D016623:Ion Pumps; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013395:Sucrose; D014199:Trehalose; D000099173:Natural Resistance-associated Macrophage Protein 1; D000099236:Solute Carrier Family 11, Member 2; C094756:mvl protein, Drosophila