The moleskin gene product is essential for Caudal-mediated constitutive antifungal Drosomycin gene expression in Drosophila epithelia.
The homeobox gene, Caudal, encodes the DNA-binding nuclear transcription factor that plays a crucial role during development and innate immune response. The Drosophila homologue of importin-7 (DIM-7), encoded by moleskin, was identified as a Caudal-interacting molecule during yeast two-hybrid screening. Both mutation of the minimal region of Caudal responsible for moleskin binding and RNA interference (RNAi) of moleskin dramatically inhibited the Caudal nuclear localization. Furthermore, Caudal-mediated constitutive expression of antifungal Drosomycin gene was severely affected in the moleskin-RNAi flies, showing a local Drosomycin expression pattern indistinguishable from that of the Caudal-RNAi flies. These in vivo data suggest that DIM-7 mediates Caudal nuclear localization, which is important for the proper Caudal function necessary for regulating innate immune genes in Drosophila.
Han
S-H
SH
Division of Molecular Life Science and Center for Cell Signalling Research, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Ryu
J-H
JH
Oh
C-T
CT
Nam
K-B
KB
Nam
H-J
HJ
Jang
I-H
IH
Brey
P T
PT
Lee
W-J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D028884:Karyopherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D034622:RNA Interference; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D028884:Karyopherins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C084564:cad protein, Drosophila; C091227:DRS protein, Drosophila; D008156:Luciferases; D005982:Glutathione Transferase