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A serpin mutant links Toll activation to melanization in the host defence of Drosophila
Author(s) -
Ligoxygakis Petros,
Pelte Nadège,
Ji Chuanyi,
Leclerc Vincent,
Duvic Bernard,
Belvin Marcia,
Jiang Haobo,
Hoffmann Jules A.,
Reichhart JeanMarc
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/cdf661
Subject(s) - toll , biology , drosophila (subgenus) , humanities , environmental ethics , philosophy , genetics , gene
A prominent response during the Drosophila host defence is the induction of proteolytic cascades, some of which lead to localized melanization of pathogen surfaces, while others activate one of the major players in the systemic antimicrobial response, the Toll pathway. Despite the fact that gain‐of‐function mutations in the Toll receptor gene result in melanization, a clear link between Toll activation and the melanization reaction has not been firmly established. Here, we present evidence for the coordination of hemolymph‐borne melanization with activation of the Toll pathway in the Drosophila host defence. The melanization reaction requires Toll pathway activation and depends on the removal of the Drosophila serine protease inhibitor Serpin27A. Flies deficient for this serpin exhibit spontaneous melanization in larvae and adults. Microbial challenge induces its removal from the hemolymph through Toll‐dependent transcription of an acute phase immune reaction component.