The MAPKKK Mekk1 regulates the expression of Turandot stress genes in response to septic injury in Drosophila.
Septic injury triggers a rapid and widespread response in Drosophila adults that involves the up-regulation of many genes required to combat infection and for wound healing. Genome-wide expression profiling has already demonstrated that this response is controlled by signaling through the Toll, Imd, JAK-STAT and JNK pathways. Using oligonucleotide microarrays, we now demonstrate that the MAPKKK Mekk1 regulates a small subset of genes induced by septic injury including Turandot (Tot) stress genes. Our analysis indicates that Tot genes show a complex regulation pattern including signals from both the JAK-STAT and Imd pathways and Mekk1. Interestingly, Mekk1 flies are resistant to microbial infection but susceptible to paraquat, an inducer of oxidative stress. These results point to a role of Mekk1 in the protection against tissue damage and/or protein degradation and indicate complex interactions between stress and immune pathways in Drosophila.
Brun
Sylvain
S
Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, CNRS, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Vidal
Sheila
S
Spellman
Paul
P
Takahashi
Kuniaki
K
Tricoire
Hervé
H
Lemaitre
Bruno
B
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
D019476:Insect Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1