Eater, a transmembrane protein mediating phagocytosis of bacterial pathogens in Drosophila.
Phagocytosis is a complex, evolutionarily conserved process that plays a central role in host defense against infection. We have identified a predicted transmembrane protein, Eater, which is involved in phagocytosis in Drosophila. Transcriptional silencing of the eater gene in a macrophage cell line led to a significant reduction in the binding and internalization of bacteria. Moreover, the N terminus of the Eater protein mediated direct microbial binding which could be inhibited with scavenger receptor ligands, acetylated, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein. In vivo, eater expression was restricted to blood cells. Flies lacking the eater gene displayed normal responses in NF-kappaB-like Toll and IMD signaling pathways but showed impaired phagocytosis and decreased survival after bacterial infection. Our results suggest that Eater is a major phagocytic receptor for a broad range of bacterial pathogens in Drosophila and provide a powerful model to address the role of phagocytosis in vivo.
Kocks
Christine
C
Laboratory of Developmental Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. christine_kocks@hms.harvard.edu
Cho
Ju Hyun
JH
Nehme
Nadine
N
Ulvila
Johanna
J
Pearson
Alan M
AM
Meister
Marie
M
Strom
Charles
C
Conto
Stephanie L
SL
Hetru
Charles
C
Stuart
Lynda M
LM
Stehle
Thilo
T
Hoffmann
Jules A
JA
Reichhart
Jean-Marc
JM
Ferrandon
Dominique
D
Rämet
Mika
M
Ezekowitz
R Alan B
RA
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006639:Histidine / Q000737:chemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010587:Phagocytosis; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000472:pathogenicity
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C505820:eater protein, Drosophila; D006639:Histidine