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Cloning and characterization of Dorsal homologues in the hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus
Author(s) -
UrsicBedoya R.,
Buchhop J.,
Lowenberger C.
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2009.00909.x
Subject(s) - biology , transcription factor , innate immune system , rhodnius prolixus , insect , cloning (programming) , gene , immune system , dorsum , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , immunity , transcription (linguistics) , anatomy , botany , computer science , programming language , linguistics , philosophy
Rhodnius prolixus is an ancient haematophagous hemipteran insect capable of mounting a powerful immune response. This response is transcriptionally regulated in part by transcription factors of the Rel/Nuclear Factor kappa B (Rel/NF‐κB) family. We have cloned and characterized three members of this transcription factor family in this insect. Dorsal 1A is primarily expressed in early developmental stages. In contrast, dorsal 1B and 1C, both differentially spliced products of dorsal 1A, are expressed primarily in the adult fat body in response to septic injury, suggesting their exclusive role in immunity. Additionally, we identified putative κB binding sites in the 5′ upstream regions of target genes known to be involved in the innate immune response of insects.