Abstract
Pore-forming members of the membrane attack complex/perforin-like (MACPF) protein superfamily perform well-characterized roles as mammalian immune effectors. For example, complement component 9 and perforin function to directly form pores in the membrane of Gram-negative pathogens or virally infected/transformed cells, respectively. In contrast, the only known MACPF protein in Drosophila melanogaster, Torso-like, plays crucial roles during development in embryo patterning and larval growth. Here, we report that in addition to these functions, Torso-like plays an important role in Drosophila immunity. However, in contrast to a hypothesized effector function in, for example, elimination of Gram-negative pathogens, we find that torso-like null mutants instead show increased susceptibility to certain Gram-positive pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. We further show that this deficit is due to a severely reduced number of circulating immune cells and, as a consequence, an impaired ability to phagocytose bacterial particles. Together these data suggest that Torso-like plays an important role in controlling the development of the Drosophila cellular immune system.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 675-681 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Genetics |
| Volume | 204 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2016 |
Keywords
- Cellular immunity
- Drosophila melanogaster
- Genetics of immunity
- Membrane attack complex/perforin-like proteins
- Phagocytosis
- Torso-like
Cite this
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Development of the cellular immune system of Drosophila requires the membrane attack complex/perforin-like protein Torso-like. / Forbes-Beadle, Lauren; Crossman, Tova; Johnson, Travis K.; Burke, Richard; Warr, Coral G.; Whisstock, James C.
In: Genetics, Vol. 204, No. 2, 01.10.2016, p. 675-681.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of the cellular immune system of Drosophila requires the membrane attack complex/perforin-like protein Torso-like
AU - Forbes-Beadle, Lauren
AU - Crossman, Tova
AU - Johnson, Travis K.
AU - Burke, Richard
AU - Warr, Coral G.
AU - Whisstock, James C.
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - Pore-forming members of the membrane attack complex/perforin-like (MACPF) protein superfamily perform well-characterized roles as mammalian immune effectors. For example, complement component 9 and perforin function to directly form pores in the membrane of Gram-negative pathogens or virally infected/transformed cells, respectively. In contrast, the only known MACPF protein in Drosophila melanogaster, Torso-like, plays crucial roles during development in embryo patterning and larval growth. Here, we report that in addition to these functions, Torso-like plays an important role in Drosophila immunity. However, in contrast to a hypothesized effector function in, for example, elimination of Gram-negative pathogens, we find that torso-like null mutants instead show increased susceptibility to certain Gram-positive pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. We further show that this deficit is due to a severely reduced number of circulating immune cells and, as a consequence, an impaired ability to phagocytose bacterial particles. Together these data suggest that Torso-like plays an important role in controlling the development of the Drosophila cellular immune system.
AB - Pore-forming members of the membrane attack complex/perforin-like (MACPF) protein superfamily perform well-characterized roles as mammalian immune effectors. For example, complement component 9 and perforin function to directly form pores in the membrane of Gram-negative pathogens or virally infected/transformed cells, respectively. In contrast, the only known MACPF protein in Drosophila melanogaster, Torso-like, plays crucial roles during development in embryo patterning and larval growth. Here, we report that in addition to these functions, Torso-like plays an important role in Drosophila immunity. However, in contrast to a hypothesized effector function in, for example, elimination of Gram-negative pathogens, we find that torso-like null mutants instead show increased susceptibility to certain Gram-positive pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. We further show that this deficit is due to a severely reduced number of circulating immune cells and, as a consequence, an impaired ability to phagocytose bacterial particles. Together these data suggest that Torso-like plays an important role in controlling the development of the Drosophila cellular immune system.
KW - Cellular immunity
KW - Drosophila melanogaster
KW - Genetics of immunity
KW - Membrane attack complex/perforin-like proteins
KW - Phagocytosis
KW - Torso-like
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84991497420&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1534/genetics.115.185462
DO - 10.1534/genetics.115.185462
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84991497420
VL - 204
SP - 675
EP - 681
JO - Genetics
JF - Genetics
SN - 1943-2631
IS - 2
ER -