title: Genomic organization and immune regulation of the defensin gene from the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae.
abstract: The defensin gene from the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, is present as a single copy per haploid genome. Two exons, encoding a 102 residue preprodefensin, are separated by a 105 bp intron bounded by consensus splice sites. The upstream regulatory sequence includes a TATA box, arthropod initiator and numerous motifs homologous to insect and mammalian immune response elements. This promoter is capable of upregulation by immune challenge in cultured cells and activity is further stimulated by Gambif1, a mosquito Rel protein known to translocate to the nucleus and bind NF-kappa B sites in target promoters. Activity is inhibited by p50, a mammalian Rel protein that competitively binds NF-kappa B sites, and virtually abolished by p40, an avian I kappa B protein that inhibits nuclear translocation.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Huxley Building, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK. p.eggleston@keele.ac.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eggleston
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D023082:Defensins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005091:Exons; D017344:Genes, Insect; D016678:Genome; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007438:Introns; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D023082:Defensins; C102446:Gambif1 protein, Anopheles gambiae; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011498:Protein Precursors; D015534:Trans-Activators