Premium
Induction of gene expression of antibacterial proteins by chitin oligomers in the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Author(s) -
Furukawa S.,
Taniai K.,
Yang J.,
Shono T.,
Yamakawa M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
insect molecular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.955
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2583
pISSN - 0962-1075
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2583.1999.810145.x
Subject(s) - bombyx mori , chitin , biology , gene , bombyx , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , chitosan
Activation of antibacterial protein genes by various chitin oligomers (from dimer to hexamer) was investigated by Northern blot analysis using cDNAs encoding cecropin B, attacin and lebocin from Bombyx mori as probes. All chitin oligomers tested were found to strongly trigger expression of cecropin B, attacin and lebocin genes. Furthermore, gene expression triggered by chitin oligomers was confirmed to occur specifically in the fat body and haemocytes. These results suggest that chitin oligomers have the same characteristics as those of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan in triggering gene expression of insect antibacterial proteins.