Unfolded protein response genes regulated by CED-1 are required for Caenorhabditis elegans innate immunity.
The endoplasmic reticulum stress response, also known as the unfolded protein response (UPR), has been implicated in the normal physiology of immune defense and in several disorders, including diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. Here, we show that the apoptotic receptor CED-1 and a network of PQN/ABU proteins involved in a noncanonical UPR response are required for proper defense to pathogen infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. A full-genome microarray analysis indicates that CED-1 functions to activate the expression of pqn/abu genes. We also show that ced-1 and pqn/abu genes are required for the survival of C. elegans exposed to live Salmonella enterica, and that overexpression of pqn/abu genes confers protection against pathogen-mediated killing. The results indicate that unfolded protein response genes, regulated in a CED-1-dependent manner, are involved in the C. elegans immune response to live bacteria.
Haskins
Kylie A
KA
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Russell
Jonathan F
JF
Gaddis
Nathan
N
Dressman
Holly K
HK
Aballay
Alejandro
A
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005796:Genes; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D017510:Protein Folding; D034622:RNA Interference; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013534:Survival / Q000502:physiology
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C422043:ced-1 protein, C elegans; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins