Drosophila immune deficiency (IMD) is a death domain protein that activates antibacterial defense and can promote apoptosis.
We report the molecular characterization of the immune deficiency (imd) gene, which controls antibacterial defense in Drosophila. imd encodes a protein with a death domain similar to that of mammalian RIP (receptor interacting protein), a protein that plays a role in both NF-kappaB activation and apoptosis. We show that imd functions upstream of the DmIKK signalosome and the caspase DREDD in the control of antibacterial peptide genes. Strikingly, overexpression of imd leads to constitutive transcription of these genes and to apoptosis, and both effects are blocked by coexpression of the caspase inhibitor P35. We also show that imd is involved in the apoptotic response to UV irradiation. These data raise the possibility that antibacterial response and apoptosis share common control elements in Drosophila.
Georgel
P
P
Institut de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, UPR 9022 du CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
Naitza
S
S
Kappler
C
C
Ferrandon
D
D
Zachary
D
D
Swimmer
C
C
Kopczynski
C
C
Duyk
G
G
Reichhart
J M
JM
Hoffmann
J A
JA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000235:genetics*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; C054756:DptA protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; C439909:imd protein, Drosophila; C091227:DRS protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; C496563:IKKbeta protein, Drosophila; D020169:Caspases; C431887:dredd protein, Drosophila