Inhibition of melanization by a Nasonia defensin-like peptide: implications for host immune suppression.
The parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis suppresses host immune mechanisms that include melanization reactions. Melanization is an important immune response of hosts induced by wasp infection and thus its inhibition represents a successful strategy for parasitism. However, the molecular basis associated with such inhibition is largely unknown in N. vitripennis. Here, we report recombinant expression, structural and functional characterization of a Nasonia-derived defensin-like peptide (called nasonin-3) whose recombinant product exerts inhibitory effect on host melanization. The possible role of nasonin-3 in immune suppression is also discussed.
Tian
Caihuan
C
Group of Animal Innate Immunity, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects & Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.
Wang
Lei
L
Ye
Gongyin
G
Zhu
Shunyi
S
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D023082:Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004175:Diptera / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
D023082:Defensins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012313:RNA; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase