title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Cheah
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chia
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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