Dual activation of the Drosophila toll pathway by two pattern recognition receptors.

Gobert, Vanessa; Gottar, Marie; Matskevich, Alexey A; Rutschmann, Sophie; Royet, Julien; Belvin, Marcia; Hoffmann, Jules A; Ferrandon, Dominique · Science · 2003

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The Toll-dependent defense against Gram-positive bacterial infections in Drosophila is mediated through the peptidoglycan recognition protein SA (PGRP-SA). A mutation termed osiris disrupts the Gram-negative binding protein 1 (GNBP1) gene and leads to compromised survival of mutant flies after Gram-positive infections, but not after fungal or Gram-negative bacterial challenge. Our results demonstrate that GNBP1 and PGRP-SA can jointly activate the Toll pathway. The potential for a combination of distinct proteins to mediate detection of infectious nonself in the fly will refine the concept of pattern recognition in insects.

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