Title

Helicase89B is a Mot1p/BTAF1 homologue that mediates an antimicrobial response in Drosophila

UMMS Affiliation

Program in Molecular Medicine

Publication Date

2005-10-04

Document Type

Article

Subjects

Animals; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; DNA Helicases; DNA-Binding Proteins; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Immunity; Larva; Mutation; Signal Transduction; TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; Transcription Factor TFIID; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic

Disciplines

Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

We have identified a novel component, Helicase89B, that is required for the inducible antimicrobial response in Drosophila larvae by means of a P-element insertional genetic screen. Helicase89B belongs to the Mot1p/BTAF1 subfamily of SNF2-like ATPases. This subfamily can interact with TATA-binding proteins, but whether the interaction leads to gene activation or repression is being debated. We found that Helicase89B is required for the inducible expression of antimicrobial peptide genes but not for the inducible expression of heat-shock genes. The antimicrobial peptide genes are activated by the Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) signalling pathways. Genetic experiments show that Helicase89B acts downstream of DIF and Relish, the two nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)-related transcription factors that mediate Toll- and IMD-stimulated antimicrobial response. Thus, Helicase89B positively regulates gene expression during innate immune response and may act as a link between NF-kappaB-related transcription factors and the basal transcription machinery.

DOI of Published Version

10.1038/sj.embor.7400542

Source

EMBO Rep. 2005 Nov;6(11):1088-94. Epub 2005 Sep 30. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

EMBO reports

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

16200050

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